the change to the i this is al jazeera ah hello, hello robin. you're watching the news on like my headquarters here in coming up in the next 60 minutes. a devastating toll from germany was flooding in decade. more than a 100 people have died. a 100 law, i'm missing a warning just days out from england. lifting cro virus restriction that hospital admissions will reach carry levels. south african president. he won't allow anarchy

and the clean up continue 2 days of looting and rioting. and we get rare access inside the complex zone in northern european where we are territory is disputed within 2 ethnic community. and he's famous, told his sports newspaper is now just one way to go until the 30 and then picks. but career of ours continues to disrupt preparations and the public skepticism remains. ah, good company. welcome to the news. another search is old for hundreds of people missing as the sheer scale of flooding in germany and other parts of western europe becomes clearer. in germany alone, at least 103 people have died as towns and villages a swamp. another 1300 accounted for chance. angland merkle says she phase. the full

extent of the disaster may not be known for days. officials are saying the economic cost of the damage will be immense. vast, pass the latest from since seek in germany. a lots of people still missing and only very, very slowly, the sheer devastation of this disaster is coming to the surface. as i can say, people are really picking up their pieces. these houses are still standing, but you can see from the lines on the walls, how high this water had struck against these walls up to 4 meters high. these houses are very near to the river, and people have been telling me there was this southern southern rise of the water and then it really the current was very strong. they had to flee, and many were able to, to evacuate themselves, but sadly nearby. and it's a place we can't even reach now because the bridges are broken. at least 12 people died in a house for disabled people. so that's

a very sad news from this place called since sick here. and what we can hear from most people we're talking to is that there will really, really surprised by the amount of the water to people here was left here. their whole lives are like that. we've never seen a thing like this. and of course, global warming, dan easily comes to my, why not a person told me, i hope this is a wake up call for politicians who really actually start doing things. of course, this is the 1st time that's really in their face here, because of course, we know of this office in less developed parts of the world. but this is right here in the west of europe, where this author, us hits that hasn't seen the scale for very long time. but in the meantime, of course, these people are 1st worried about their belongings, their homes, and also still about safety rep or banks are still under pressure. dams are still under pressure. the rain has now stopped, but it's still quite some concern about the days to come. while belgians also being

hit by the devastating floods in the province of the age 20 have died, often confirmed, died while at least 14 a missing. around 10 houses were swept away by 20 rain in the eastern city, a vast people from more than a 1000 homes of being forced to flee. the severe weather wholesale disrupted public transport with many train lines shot in substance to neighboring germany cancelled . let's go over to natasha butler, who's in the age right now in natasha. really the death toll less than germany right now. but in belgium it is slowly rising and worrying the authorities there. yes, the belgian officials are saying that at least 23 people have died amongst them. we are 5 to 15 year old girl who's swept away by the river. there are at least a dozen people missing, but of course those numbers could go up. so i really hope breaking seen fair in this fall of belgium. 1 in the south from the east, but have been hit so badly by days of rain has stopped raining now. there is

a little bit of respite, but there's a lot of concern, of course, over the rising water. in fact, i'm going to step out of the way. i'm in the hall to the city of yes, one of the locations has been badly affected. and if you look at the river, this is the river. next to me it is flowing extremely false. we've seen a lot of depth, pretty going among branches, bricks, little bits of concrete, all of that, of course, making the rescue operation even more difficult and putting people at risk. i just a little way up the river. there are neighborhoods that are completely flooded so that you can see people walking around me here and the ready to still open. if not that far away, the whole neighborhoods, the flooded on the water roads turned to rivers. homes completely submerged. we spoke in fact a while ago to bip and tomorrow he is a professor at the university here and yes, he's actually stuck on the top floor face house. he can't get out. he says, unless

a boat comes to get him, let's take a listen to him. i would say we are safe so far over house is trapped it to surrounded by water from front street. at the same time at the back yard you can see famine. it started yesterday and we have electricity, but the water supply is less some impurity and we have limpid pool supply. if the situation will not improve, we are not sure about for the processes. and they are recreating people with data recreating to a nearby gymnasium. but that has a capacity and them at the same time, there is any issues because there are so many people in japan as you. so yesterday it was really horrible. i'm and i saw 2 roads crossing the water. the speed was so high, the fell down for some i managed to have them to cross the street, elderly women in the neighborhood. they were crying, but they could not tell them. i mean the speed was really high. they are recording

people who are requesting them to quit and i, i took some pictures of the question i'm getting called from my friends in neighborhood. they're also prepped in the house is actually one of my colleagues. she lives at the bottom near germany are also completely submerged as much as we have food supply. it's better to stay in home because there are so many people in those 3 question camps and it will not be that hygiene, i think so. so far as the surface where you can hear that the emotion in, in voice and he describes his experiences, not as because so many people were taken off guard by the ferocity of these floods by the water gushing through the neighborhood. there is a huge, a search and rescue operation on the way both on the grounds and of course, from the air with helicopters, emergency services, even using drones to try to get a sense of the area and see if there are any people stranded on rooftops who need

to be a rescue. that is, of course, on going belgian authority for all telling people to stay away from the country and certainly stay away from some of these high risk areas if at all possible for the day. thanks very much. natasha butler, that was in the ash in belgium. while in the netherlands, people are starting to clean up the flood waters recede. residents have been worn to seek refuge until friday afternoon, but many business centers returned to the shop. so soon as the rain stopped at least one bridge in the southern city, vulcan bag was destroyed while several less games. also evacuated or joined by d forgotten. he's a professor of climate change of the humboldt university in berlin and research group leader at the potsdam institute for climate impact rosette and joins me now from bar lane. it's good to have with us on the program. mr. guy, how surprised are you at the impact of this deluge and the damage that it's left in

its wake the general re climate scientists. i'm not surprised at such streams are happening more often and get my weekend that has been said by the climate moderates for decades. then we see them accumulating all over the well in the past years, especially heat waves trouts. and also this one is really extraordinary for this particular region because it affected such a large area with larry high, right, fos and lots and people were even not prepared for any such event because it hasn't occurred historically about such a large area. so getting except that you know what, yes, sometimes we talk about these sorts of incidents. we can sometimes link them to deforestation or the construction of dams that off the blame for these sorts of disasters. can we rule this out completely in this particular instance? not completely, of course, last so you always have a combination of effects,

the strong rainfall, deforestation. indeed, the ceiling of highest weather water that cannot then cover sorta so we will have to investigate for this reaching what can be improved for possible future situations along these lines. at some point to given these masses of the way, no, such a large area. i think that is the main factor here that explains to speak when at some point you cannot do much about it anymore. indeed with what has happened. can we expect this to happen again? does germany and its neighbors, neighbors have to brace themselves, civil incidents like this more frequently in the future? we cannot say that will happen again like this in a particular region, but the land is clear from the model that the warmer the atmosphere gets, the more likely to happen. so it is the good advice to prepare for, for those plots. but at the same time,

and also the extreme said at least cetera you of your problem, you will have to do that more than that in the future. so how will listen incident focused the minds of the politicians as a gather in glasgow in scotland later this year? for the next cop meeting and climate change meeting, something like this really on the doorstep is going to worry a lot of you certainly european leaders as well as global leaders. yes it's, i think it's coming to mindset. begin. and again, if they see such events, their whole story indeed, we see that also now in germany about the petitions way step wise and say, we need to do more. but i really hope that this will be taking years, not only and young and gilbreth that we need to, but they did kill the bombing as soon as possible that a strong as possible to go to such events in the future whenever they would occur.

we can talk ro, meteorologist here on al jazeera and he describes this weather front is quite unique and being squeezed in between france that way, over the united kingdom and perhaps more to the east of europe. can we see this repetition? this weather front itself also come back to europe again if, if, if the climate environment stay the same or, or get worse. well, this particular, this is denita especially in that situation that has happened in 10 days. and there was no rational system very slowly around the area and then was able to yeah, that the grandfathers were able to pull down cloth. so days and days. so we cannot stay which constellation of what happens in particular regions of particular use in

the future. that's a general tendency for specific situations and then becoming more intent so nasty, not only days, but weeks or even months as we have seen the job, $28900.00, for example, which is the other extreme. and this, your question was also who was wrong for a week now when going down, it's wayne thought. now for gays, it seems to be a specific feature of how the very system of the weather changes in response to the global long term wanting change. because it's some research area we have metrology was just a long term trans look with that danced on a propensity to gas and from the humboldt university in berlin. thanks so much for joining us. thank you. mm.

well, scientists and health experts are warning as what is being called freedom day, just days out from england dropping cave in 1900 restrictions from monday. rules to our masks, benz on night clubs and work from home guidance are all to go. but the chief medical officer is warning that england is not out of the woods yet. and that hospitalisation levels could reach scary levels within weeks. on thursday they were nearly 50000 new cases. that's the highest since january the belt of arian to count . so almost all of those new infections and around 1600000 people in england have been told to isolate scientists, doctors from both the u. k and internationally. also warning, the move is reckless and endangered. millions of lives will join me and always john, hello, correspondent, his monitoring event for us in london. so less than 24 hours to get a job. and before all of those, cobit 19 restrictions and left dead. does the public think this is the right decision, despite those infection, numbers rising?

while it's freedom there is you said there, that's how it's been done. monday it is in fact 24 hours. but monday, when the at least the bulk of these restrictions will be lifted in law and anecdotally, it does seem that poll suggests that the public are generally quite worried about that. and that's because they can well see that it is highly questionable at this moment how much freedom there is from the virus itself. infection rates, as you say, a climbing rapidly this week, getting an average of around 50000 a day, the highest they've been in 6 months. the new health secretary says the job predicted they could easily hit a 100000 a day during the course of this. 3rd way, most of those new infections, of course, are happening in the unvaccinated population. the young children, most of those young and fit enough to emerge relatively unscathed, but not old death numbers are rising to averaging around 50 a day. that's a big jump in the last few weeks with the result that among the vaccinated

population, among the vulnerable in that population, there is real anxiety about what lies ahead be on monday. when these restrictions are lifted. there's concerned about all sorts of things long comb with the long, lingering after effects of code 900 very significant in this country across all age groups. this concern about that there's the national health service app that everyone is required to carry, which is pinging away incessantly. at the moment it's been dubbed ping demick by the tabloids telling people that they've got to isolate for 10 days because they've been in contact with a positive case. 540000 people were pinged in a single week. this month. that was double the number of the week before 840000 school children have been sent home under similar circumstances with all the sort of attendant care issues that come with that. it's all having a huge impact on the economy. stop shortage is business is struggling to stay open factories warning that they might have to close and all the while there is this

swirling concern among scientists building, advising the government, warning the government to change course 1200 scientists have given their support to a letter written to the atlantic medical journal warning that the government strategy of allowing the virus to effectively run wild among the young and school children is quite dangerous and unethical. and could allow for the emergence of vaccine resistant variance. and as such, they say is a danger to the whole world. indeed, of course, over what 24 hours my apologies i have to do it will of course, catch up with you john. i also want to get more information. thank you. well, of course i, dr. barra and connie is a senior clinical lecture, university of extra medical school jose, me now from a skype via skype from bath in england. i could tell you whether on the program. i mean, you've had correspondent jonah that you know, 1200 doctors, very appealing to the land set to make that voices heard. but they think the

government need to change. course they need to rethink their strategy before monday . are you in agreement with them? i am very much so, and i'm very happy to say openly that i was one of the signatories on to that letter in the lancet. and in that letter, we explain that we haven't really immunize the majority of our population when we have what we still got, 48 percent to still immunize and to allow infection to run its course, equals lots of consequences, hospitalizations that and long kobuck. okay, let's just talk about the situation that you know it in terms of the hospitals and the medical care have the hospitals and their staff been able to recover from the last wave in terms of getting the numbers back up to a level where they can cope with anyone who is infected or anyone who needs care in

hospital. well, of course not because they are extremely tired from having 18 months of serious overwork under a lot of pressure and stress. so once the hospital warns, are just about adequately stuff is teetering on, it can't be done because there is that human factor of but not tiredness and absolutely will not from relentless, hard work over 18 months. now one of the other issues is that the simplest of precautions is being withdrawn and that's the wearing of a mask with a government thinking and saying that the british public have the good sense to make a decision for themselves. yet, public transport, pubs, clubs, restaurants, all thing they can't enforce, they will find it difficult to enforce. that is that's a measure that the government can take, you turn on they should take a, you turn on because it is so simple and straightforward. and it is

a minor inconvenience and a lot of benefit if good quality marks are worn properly and forced by government mandate rather than individual organizations or businesses mandating it. it is really a simple thing and it is a shame that it was just dropped to gain popularity and be popular and appease prime minister johnson's back benches, who want all restrictions to be removed. the science will tell you otherwise, where do you mark where it's properly and it will save lives? not just for the british view is watching al jazeera now, but for our international global audience, please tell us why do we have to wear a mask? well, be saw clearly to virus isn't predominantly spread by the arrow, so rude. and what that means is it is in the ash and it spreads to the distances. been 2 meters that everybody talks about. so if you were to wear a mosque,

it reduces the throwing out of infectious bar particles. and if somebody's throwing them out in your direction a well sitting close mosque prevent a lot of those bars, quantico from hitting your nose and mouth and infecting you. so the mosque was properly a good quality one, protect the person wearing it, and protect the people as well. so it's good to remind everybody what it's all about at the end of the day, it's the small things that matter, dr. about it, and katia, thanks so much for joining us from exeter medical school in the u. k. now, russia's capital is also using current virus restriction. despite surgeon cases, moscow's residence will no longer have to provide proof of vaccination or immunity in public venues. a 5th of 9026000 new cases recorded in russia on friday are in the capital authority say the adults are very into the slow vaccination rate. a to blame from the eiffel tower has reopened to visitors after its longest closure

since world war 2. the french landmark has been shut since the start of the cave at 19 pandemic. it allows, at $13000.00 people a day, the french government has announced a new restriction for visitors to the site, including proof of vaccination or a negative p. c r test. ah, south africa, the president says it's economic recovery has been hit by week of violence and looting that's killed at least 117 people civil run the poses as the unrest was planned and coordinated and authorities of identify 12 suspects. the president says 25000 soldiers will patrol the 3 to stop further looting and violence rights began after the former president and jacob zima was sent to jail last week. and it's quite clear that all these incidents,

unrest and looting were instigated instigators. people who planned it coordinated it well, but if miss la correspondent in dub and standing by for bernard, the president had a lot more to say. what else was that so well, sir, i'm opposed to. he was here in this township, just on the edge of durban earlier today, and he said that on a key a may have will not prevail. he said south africa democracy is hard fought for and it will not be hijacked. and yes, he said he has the suspicions over who is behind what he called deliberately provoked, rioting and looting. the government has around a doesn't suspect people believes are guilty or responsible for instigating the right thing. and local media reporting that one of them is very close to form of president jacob zoom up. he's from this part of south africa,

quasi natal province. and it's his jailing that was the spark for the writing. but what really pushed the rising on and the looting what really pushed all i don't, is almost 30 years in the end of why minority rule poverty is endemic here in south africa. and very little has been done to alleviate the problems of the majority of people here, about half of the population. 35000000000 still full to be living below the poverty line on around unemployment. out near record. 33 percent. not helped. of course. like everywhere else in the world by the ongoing, co, 900 pandemic. so and of course, the big question of food and essential supplies in the scarcity of that was always going to be big question mark. is it connected to what's going on behind you? yeah, this is a q at a petrol station for bread and milk is one of the only one of the only places in

the area that's still open. and so he's got any stock left. the guy who owns his place is just had a delivery of some fresh fruits and some vegetables and some bread. and also this is the only petrol station that hasn't been burned down, haven't been torch. and that was why there's a big queue here, heading all the way down the road perpetual. the 2 refineries in the irish shell and b, p only reopened today after shut down a more than 48 hours, creating a backlog and delivery of refined petrol. and of course, people start to panic by and not very facts of panic bible filling up the tanks, creates even more shortages now. actually, south africa's consumer goods council. it says it is warned of a humanitarian disaster. unless security is provided for delivery vehicles and trucks and staff, retail stores, and manufacturing plants. this is why bakers are making bread because people are you afraid to go in because they think those places are going to get ransacked. the

government has said in the presence at it earlier on today, but by the end of, by the end of today the next couple of days that will be all those $25000.00 soldiers on the streets here in crossville in ital out in housing province. where the main cities johannesburg, he's hoping that bat increase security will encourage businesses manufacturing plants to get operating again and try and return this country at least for the time being to some sorts of normalcy for the update. thanks very much. ben smith, forth in devons, is time for the webinar, his evident fox. hello, the rain clouds have been gathering across southern parts of the middle east and we are likely to see a once per the flooding of many pounds for the reason last class showing up on the satellite pitcher. is it a storm ahead of that is known as a boob, coming in behind beliefs of the kind of conditions that one of 2 spots of st. across 7 parts of the area, chiefly into a man into yemen, southern parts of saudi arabia. we'll see the worst of the rifle as we go one

through the next couple days, but we could see that wet weather also making its way up towards us here in concert . there we go. that was just flooding across the u. e. nothing up towards doha. don't be surprised to see a shower as we go through saturday and on into sunday, some showers to also extending their way into parts of southern and west and iran over the next couple of days. further north, today's january dry fusion was around, the caucasus pushed back further south, we got the shells continued central parts of africa. so with the south sedans, seeing some heavy downpour. central african republic, all the way across towards the gulf of guinea, south of that. it is generally dry, but we have got a few showers in the forecast across the eastern part of africa, chiefly into we're mozambique, some on shore showers, just drifting in here. maybe a shower or 2 into town smith and we are legacy wanted to have showers for that eastern side of madagascar. hillman news, lebanon plunges into more economic turmoil. after the resignation of its prime

minister designate. also we look at how routine surgeries in sending law be impacted by an acute oxygen shortage. and in for police in japan, search for weight flipped from the again the we've gone missing a week before the olympic games. those stories after the break. ah, i'm sorry, should be about raising prices this entirely down to the time we bring you the stories and developments that are rapidly changing the world. we live in time in that designate who has the task of fixing a war torn economy, counting the cost on al jazeera odyssey the world, unpicked the fascinating story of a prisoner exchange, negotiated through intermediaries on behalf of us and israel,

a story of brinkman ship and bought a captive israeli soldier for palestinian prisoners as recalled by mediators and players from both sides of a prisoner exchanged on his ear. we understand the differences and similarities of cultures across the world. and so now how do you take it will bring you the news and current affairs that matter to you? oh, a book about watching the out there and use that with me. the hills around the reminder of our top stories, more than $1300.00 people are missing in western europe after severe flooding. at

least 103 people have died in germany, which experienced its worst weather disaster in decades. health experts of warning about a rise in cave in 1900 infection. i think it stays away from lifting all restrictions . 50000 cases are reported on thursday with almost all from the delta buried south africa, presidents as the week long and rise. the 117 people was planned and coordinated. several run, the pose of says $25000.00 soldiers will patrol street to talk further, looting and violence. amnesty international says police in ethiopia have detained dozens of to brian's in what appears to be an ethnically motivated operation. the rights groups, as the rest were carried out in the capital, addis ababa joined last 2 weeks. with many denied due process, amnesty says journalists and activists have also been targeted. they include at least 11 reporters covering the conflict in the northern dry region. while some have been really.