often legitimize them grega one is pedophiles are narrow online jumping to the critics and the team to be part of the discussion this stream on out is the era. the number of corona virus infections in the us passes 21 states for well short of that that summation targets. hello i'm down in jordan this is al jazeera guy from doha also coming up the user 81 good news or 32 thirds of the senators voting u.s. senators from both sides and donald trump a major defeat in the waning days of his presidency overriding his veto of a national security bill. a generally smooth start to trade and travel a lot of the u.k. completes its separation from the european union. and tensions between washington

and tehran continue to rise a year after the assassination of a top iranian general. more than $20000000.00 reported coronavirus case is under threat of a more infectious strait the u.s. is entering the new year with few signs that its rampant corona virus outbreak can be contained meanwhile the vaccination drive in the world's hardest hit country is way behind target rob reynolds reports in los angeles. it was nobody's idea of a good way to ring in the new year on friday johns hopkins university reported the u.s. had surpassed 20000000 cases of covert 19 with more than 346000 deaths the number of infections has doubled since november 9th less than 2 months ago the u.s. accounts for nearly one quarter of all coated deaths worldwide in places like

southern california hospitals and their staff are increasingly overwhelmed forcing doctors and nurses to ration care one california public health epidemiologist likened the situation to a viral tsunami florida became the 3rd state after colorado and california to report a patient with the relatively new more transmissible kovac variant 1st identified in the u.k. the man had not traveled recently at least 33 countries have now reported cases of the mutant strain a u.s. genetic testing company says its research suggests the variant has been circulating in the u.s. since october on the vaccine front fewer than 3000000 americans have received their doses of figure far short of the trumpet ministrations goal of 20000000 vaccinations before the end of 2020 i think the rollout been very haphazard there's

been almost no coordination from the federal government the federal government basically delivered to the states but then the states were not funded for the rollout program adequately and furthermore basically the state said here's the here and go hospitals you guys pull it out for the senator mitt romney a prominent us republican political figure called for stepped up efforts including the enlistment of medical students veterinary. ins and emergency medical workers to administer vaccines he said schools and other facilities that are closed due to the pandemic should be converted to mass vaccination centers president donald trump spent friday tweeting about various political grievances but mention the faltering vaccine effort only once and then to shift blame to state officials president

elect joe biden says he will use emergency wartime powers to boost vaccine production and speed up the lifesaving injections across the country rob reynolds al-jazeera the u.k.'s reactivating emergency hospitals built last year as the more infectious covert 900 variant drives more admissions have been more than 50000 new cases and each of the past 4 days. but his doctors are criticizing a change in the u.k.'s vaccination strategy the government says it would delay 2nd dose is that the pfizer biotech jobs to prioritise 1st doses into could be extended to 12 weeks or chalons in london and says there are big questions over a gap that long. has the data for what happens if you give the 2nd dose $21.00 days after the 1st dose but if you wait 3 months which is what the government is planning to do then they don't really know what's going to happen is

it going to be as effective as it should be the government those made a decision based on the pragmatics really of public health and dangerous reality that this new variances has put the country in with so many new infections so many new deaths and so much stress being put on the health system what they have decided is that it's imperative to get as many people vaccinated with the 1st usage of either the pfizer vaccine or the oxford astra zeneca one as quickly as possible because with the 1st dose you do get some degree of immunity with the astra zeneca one it's about 70 percent with the pfizer one it's it's upwards of that so essentially what the government has said is look let's prioritize 1st dosage to as many people as possible because

that's how we get out of this situation and in 3 months time we can give people 2nd doses of these vaccines and hopefully the 1st will have had its effect and the situation will be calmer and better. well doctor as an child raise an urgent care doctor in the u.k.'s national health service he says the new codeine 900 variant has hit hospital resources hard. obviously it's having a knock on effect on everything because if the wards are being used for other treatments that ward 'd has to be closed and obviously whatever that would is whether it's a surgical ward 'd or a separate counsel those things are going to be delayed i mean a consequence of still going ahead and we often find people too but at the end of the day if they're on an intensive care beds then there's only certain number of operations and things that can take place you know viruses do you say so this is always something that was you know we were wrong we were worrying about but it's been changed very quickly very rapidly and it's affecting people a lot more than before so it has hit us faster than we expected our main concern

now in the n.h.s. and all the doctors nurses and my colleagues is did you face is missing at the moment you know the ones from generally before christmas so we're really worried about the next week or 2 where the current new year's and christmas parties are taking place and people have interacted those new infections are going to hope you know will probably come in a week or 2 and if we're already in capacity we really wrote what we're going to do next we have crisis management plans taking place out in the writing at hospitals one of those hopefully if that takes you know that works out correctly for us we should be able to manage it but like i said we don't know because this is unprecedented times we haven't seen this much you know the heavy impact on the end just like this before so it's all new to all of us a panel of experts advising india's drug regulator has recommended the use of the u.k.'s oxford astra zeneca vaccine it would be the 1st to be greenlit in a country that recorded more than 10000000 infections and almost 150000 deaths.

israel says it's vaccinated a 1000000 people against code 19 that's more than a 10th of its population israel rolled out one of the world's earliest and most rapid inoculation campaigns less than 2 weeks ago but it excludes 2 and a half 1000000 palestinians living in the occupied west bank and gaza. u.s. senate has delivered a significant defeat to president donald trump voting to override his veto of a defense policy bill the senate which is controlled by trump's republican party easily achieved the 2 thirds majority required it reflects a growing rift between some congressional republicans and trump white house correspondent kimberly halkett says trump has unleashed his anger online. the u.s. president reacting on twitter calling this pathetic particularly angry with the republicans in the senate for not standing with him and he feels and tweeting that he believes that they should have done more for americans with respect to the covert relieve raising it from $600.00 to $2000.00 that didn't happen and also the

president so i happy with some of the power of the tech companies particularly leverage over the u.s. election also talking about why more wasn't done for that now in the midst of all of this the house speaker nancy pelosi she reacted as well sending out a statement that this is a resoundingly were buke of the u.s. president and his assault on the american military and national security noting that in the waning days of his presidency she accused him of attempting to sow chaos and undermine security so very strong reactions from the u.s. president but also one of the president's biggest critics in the u.s. congress what we've seen in recent days and weeks is a growing number of republicans distancing themselves from donald trump since his election loss on november 3rd what this really marks is a departure as they sort of look to the president who is outgoing and setting the

sights on their own political future so this is certainly notable what is also notable is that many of these republicans are not backing the president's claim that he won the election that the election was rigged or even that there was widespread voter fraud so how going soft for this very notable loss on capitol hill the u.s. president now sitting his sights on the next big date on capitol hill and that is january 6th that is when the congress will be tallying the electoral college votes we do expect that there will be. number of dozens of republicans in the house and at least one republican in the senate that will stand with the president to at least delay that tallying but ultimately it will be unsuccessful the u.s. president will ultimately be joe biden well i'm going to is an associate professor at emory university she says trump himself something of. there were components of the bill that president trump objected to in particular he wanted this act to

include a provision that would not give protections to tech companies in terms of making treating them like media companies it's a rule called section $230.00 he wanted that repealed and that wasn't included in the authorization and he's tech companies so you know right now when he makes claims that are questionable are baseless on facebook or twitter they put disclaimers on there saying that this is you know that this is false or misleading information and so he doesn't like that there was out there's also a provision in the defense authorization act to create a commission to rename bases in the south that were named after confederate generals so there were controversial pieces of the bill at least in president trump's mind i mean he wanted to try to gain leverage over those particular issues that were of concern to him not to everyone else and helped to hold up defense

authorization order to get what he wanted it just didn't pay off in this particular case but it's one day into brigs it and cross channel freight traffic between the u.k. and france has moved smoothly lang to rest any of concerns about potential backlogs this was the 1st ferry from britain to dock in the french port of kelly several hours after the u.k. officially left the e.u. customs union no serious delays were reported as hundreds of trucks crossed into france by ferry and through the channel tunnel well companies face new costs and paperwork including customs declarations and border checks for but in the reports now the english port of denver. the countdown to the new post relationship was projected across the departure gates at the french side of the euro tunnel rail link moments later the 1st lorry was having its documents checked. the trade deal agreed on christmas eve means no tariffs and no quotas but there is significantly more paperwork and most of it needing to be done in advance the euro

tunnel operator is get a link the change is already about. for many teams ok now it's time there is a truck coming here they have to show us that they have done. on a line before coming here it's a significant change for logistics and haulage firms on both sides of the new trading frontier the u.k. is expecting $220000000.00 additional customs declarations every year at a cost to business of some $9500000000.00 the ferry crossing between the english port of dover and cali and france handle some $2500000.00 freight vehicles every year but less than a 1000 lorries were said you'll to make the crossing on new year's day it's a gentle start for the new regime many haulage companies said they were holding off until the new systems have bedded in my hope is that given the opening couple of weeks in january are generally pretty late for us and with the pre-breakfast star

bill that we saw going on that that should enable those people that are trading during the time to to train themselves and get used to working in this new way in fact at the gates of the port the biggest sticking point on this 1st day isn't related at all. we had a plan all works out already to hold freights to manage the freight but now we've had to initiate the testing as well as a number of locations so that's the biggest problem that we've got because that was never expected never planned for the key to keeping the ports open and running smoothly will be the speed with which. the logistics companies get to grips with the new electronic and paperwork requirements the early log jams are likely to be not here at the ports but back at the factory gate or were house with cargo delayed because the correct paperwork hasn't been filled in these 1st quiet days of january an opportunity for companies to familiarize themselves with the new practicalities

the real test will come when trade volume ramps up again around the 10th or 11th of the month paul brennan al-jazeera. lots more to come here now to syria including a new era of free trade begins in africa igniting over a 1000000000 people. temper shelters but still no certainty for refugees migrants trapped in freezing weather on the border more in that state. it remains freezing cold in eastern turkey in azerbaijan the high ground of iraq but the skies generally speaking are clear there's a bit of cloud arrives an increasing breeze running down the gulf which will affect their heart's forecast is a drop in temperature down to about 22 and then 15 by night the slight chance at

1st on sunday. and i think that breeze will tend to push the luck into showers into the u.a.e. during sunday but beyond that apart from the occasional shastri up through southern syria into lebanon it looks pretty much dry and quiet which is right for this time of the year and in complete contrast what's turn to a very wet summer season in southern africa where we have the remains that tropical cycle running through botswana will be in the maybe adjoining saturday and you can almost still see the circulation that goes right out to the skies in coast now january february and march all the wet months and maybe about this is a particularly we're looking picture there will be flooding from that now the rain tends to head slurry sas into south africa in fact you can sort of see a big ring of showers doesn't get quite as far south as cape time has almost still labile sunshine so not very warm in the suddenly breeze but you've got 2426.

mass protests forcing the governments but are we seeing the picture this time in afghanistan we follow journalists on the front line. picking up pretty much committed to reporting the fact this police officer has been pointing guns at john was thinking of getting the homecoming frankton friction truth is it anyway on al-jazeera. welcome back at home out of our top stories here at this hour more than 20000000

people in the u.s. have now tested positive for corona virus that's almost a quarter of the world's cases comes as the government struggles to distribute vaccines fewer than 3000000 and given the journal. the u.s. senate has voted to override president trump's veto of the defense policy bill the senate which is controlled by trump republican party easily achieved the 2 thirds majority required. cross-channel ferry traffic between the u.k. and france has moved smoothly on the 1st day since beggs it came into force no serious delays reported as hundreds of trucks crossed into france by ferry and through the channel tunnel. iraq explosives experts are trying to defuse a naval mine found attached to an oil tanker in the gulf on thursday the vessel was refueling another ship in international waters near the iraqi port of basra iraq's army says it evacuated the vessel is not clear who was responsible. there's rising tension between the u.s. and iran almost

a year after the assassination of iranian military commander. he was killed in a u.s. drone strike in baghdad when earlier this week the u.s. conducted b. 52 bomber flyovers and sent a nuclear submarine into the gulf over concerns iran may be planning an attack on the anniversary also to bari takes a look back at the assassination. in the early hours of january 3rd 2020 shortly after arriving at baghdad international airport major general hossam so in mind he was killed in a u.s. drone strike his close ally the deputy head of iraq's popular mobilisation forces. mohandas also died along with 8 others missiles from the us drone hit their convoy as it left the airport so the money was the commander of the court's force a unit of iran's revolutionary guard responsible for foreign operations and he was also considered to be the 2nd most powerful man in iran behind the country's

supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei. and ordered all by knowing the news of his death made official by iran's state t.v. . a 3 day mourning period was announced and iran vowed revenge as u.s. president donald trump stood by his decision with this claim last night at my direction the united states military executed a flawless strike that terminated the terrors ringleader responsible for gravely wounded and further in thousands and thousands of people and hundreds and hundreds at least of americans. shola money has been killed and his bloody rampage is now for ever on a law for ayatollah khomeini so in mind he was a trusted confidant a member of his inner circle and a friend for more than 30 years almost 12 months on the commander in chief of

iran's armed forces says he's not done avenging silliman his death. you know him built woman as a politician whenever it's possible we will take revenge we will take revenge on those who ordered so him on his assassination and the ones who carried out that assassination just hours after saw him on his body was laid to rest in his hometown of care mon on january 7th the revolutionary guard launched 13 missiles at the u.s. space assad in iraq no americans were killed attentions increased iran was on high alert and accidently shot down the ukrainian airline passenger plane killing all $176.00 people on board while the united states said they were not seeking regime change in iran trumps the citizen to kill himself a money had far reaching repercussions feared by his enemies inside iran so the money had for years been one of the most popular national figures in the country

the international face of iranian resistance to american pressure he remained largely untouched by the diminishing popularity of the country's elected government . his death prompted calls for the expulsion of u.s. troops from the middle east by iranian officials as well as a rein in back groups in iraq and it's a demand which still stands a year later officials here called so the money's assassination and you tap her in the history of the middle east while many countries condemn no one has actually been held accountable the spite efforts by iran to prosecute u.s. president donald trump threw in support solem on his role was quickly filled by his deputy for his legacy is now entrenched in iran's history. north of the. tower on. africa has launched a free trade block after months of delays due to the pandemic it could be one of the world's largest trade zones without tariff barriers uniting $1300000000.00

people barring ethiopia $54.00 the continent's $55.00 countries have signed up but some economists say poorest states will still be at a disadvantage. but interest reports now from limit in. workers at this garment factory rushed to deliver 1000 selfies masks the owner says more than 2 and a half 1000000. to control the spread of copied 90. but as the africa free trade agreement comes into effect he foresees trouble ahead for the continent's poor countries. small and poor economies will always be at a disadvantage hopefully as time goes on we can get special considerations otherwise it will be difficult to compete. businesses in poor countries may have their concerns but overall experts say the agreement will eventually benefit them they believe the cheap cost of labor in these countries will attract more industries. into african trade. development

level and peace of industrialization countries vary some will have an advantage over others but african countries need to buy. and finished products among themselves. currently imports most of its needs from bottled water to food and machinery from big retail to local markets flooded with imported products because. the country will continue to depend on him making it difficult for local industries to grow. experts say it's hard to see european and asian multinational companies giving up the trade advantage they've held in africa for century. products from asian africa's largest economies lined the shelves at the emmys biggest retail monopoly. prefer these prams traders say they won't be many local goods on store shelves and less government steps in. we should be given

support the government should facilitate easy acquisition of land and loans from banks. but it's hard to see how governments on the continent can do that without breaching the protectionism rules of africa trade agreement and the world trade organization or maybe greece al-jazeera yemi. 5th european human rights commission says security forces killed more than $75.00 people during ethnic unrest in june and july last year the group has released a report detailing the violence which happened after the killing of the popular singer. he was a prominent voice in anti-government protests whatever national is from the ethiopian human rights commission he told us more about what their investigation found out. the ethiopian human rights commission launched an investigation right after. the onset of violence in. this region. the

violence was triggered by the killing. by the assassination of. who who was a very prominent singer and an activist see was killed on the 29th and then immediately afterwards we had violence unrest breaking out throughout the region in 3 days of carnage if you could call it that all together over 100 in 123 people died 35 of which were killed by by armed attackers 76 as well died at the hands of security forces today we launched the their report a full investigation report on this violence and we've deemed these attacks by by the by armed groups as amounting to crimes against humanity.

egypt's foreign ministry has summoned ethiopia's top diplomat in cairo comments regarding a controversial down. egypt's government condemn what it called ethiopia's aggressive tone it didn't cite specific comments but earlier an ethiopian official said egypt is using the dam to divert attention from its other problems egypt and sudan fear ethiopia's grandmother since damn well take too much water. at least 16 palestinians have been injured in a demonstration against israeli settlements in the occupied west bank israeli troops fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters near ramallah that follows days of escalating tension up to settlers set up tents and outposts in the area last week the move was apparently not authorized by the israeli government. tenser been set up as a template shelter for about a 1000 refugees and migrants were stranded at a burnt out camp and bosnia-herzegovina the government faced criticism for failing to protect them from freezing winter weather. reports. a sign of

relief and of new shelter this will be home for hundreds of migrants and refugees stranded in bosnia-herzegovina sleep a camp near its north was border with croatia back the military set up tents to shield hundreds of migrants from the winter's freezing weather after days of sleeping out in the cold the nation face mounting criticism for leaving the migrants without proper shelter heat or facilities to do it was ok we don't mind how we can adjust and we can drink of water that's enough for us but the problem is then problem for us we need to contain this ok. for days there were cries for help earlier this week migrants and refugees went on a hunger strike. amid reports of frostbite and hypothermia they held a protest to bring attention to their poor living conditions when these nor the

despite the problems caused when these people were abandoned by un organizations and by local authorities we must show solidarity we're here today with the red cross we're trying to help them as much as possible. most of the campus destroyed in late december when police say occupants deliberately set a fire to protest the schedule closure and lack of alternatives plans to move them to another facility fell through rejected by politicians and people living nearby aid groups have warned of a potential humanitarian crisis is a problem of more humanity just food is not enough. bad madness mostly but disease most of the people here are from south asia and the middle east they are among thousands hoping to make it to western europe to start a new life we don't have beyond gates we don't have jack up you can see this i don't have shoes the new camp will be run by the international organization for

migration it's not a long term solution but it is a way to help people with nothing to survive the winter katia llopis of the young al-jazeera. now it's a tradition dating back decades but it's not for the faint of heart on new year's day italians dive off a bridge into the icy waters of the tiber with in the capital rome the practice was started by an unemployed lifeguard to show off his diving skill in the hope of getting work to stop. type of a check of the headlines here on al-jazeera more than $20000000.00 people in the u.s. of now tested positive for corona virus that's almost a quarter of the world's cases it comes.