is the best of al jazeera as digital content. as the year draws to a close. we look back at the events that have shaped the news and look ahead to next year. december on a jesse europe ah global alert, more countries imposed travel restrictions on southern africa in response to a new powerful variance of cobit 19 european commission has today proposed to member states to activate the emergency brake on travel. ah, hello, i'm darren jordan, this is al jazeera ly from de also coming up a t 3 people have been killed in riots in the solomon islands is police arrest more than a 100 riotous france accuses the u. k. of not being serious about stopping refugee

and migrant deaths. dis, inviting the british from a crisis meeting and ukraine's president has russia has been plotting to overthrow him. moscow says has done no such thing. not welcome to the program. the discovery of a new corona virus variant has sent a chill through much of the world. the world health organization has designated this variant, omicron global vaccine make as a scrambling to understand it, and see whether they can adapt their existing jobs to be more effective against it . will on a con, has many notation suggesting it could pose more risks than the delta variant, and may evade vaccines and immunity. while the troubling data has prompted travel bands on people coming from southern africa, will 8 countries are now subjected to travel restrictions. the united states and canada are among the latest to announce flight suspensions. well,

south africa's government says the trouble is unjustified trouble is too frustrated, as their plans are put on hold for me. the miller reports from johnny's bug frustration at janice bird's international airport. as dozens of people try to return to the united kingdom, it comes all was off, date was announced. a new variant of cove at 19 had been identified in south africa that led to the united kingdom announcing a new travel ban on people coming from southern african countries, including south africa botswana and bob with is a big inconvenience. we had our flights book for a week time, but we got the news from our daughter in about 1 o'clock last night saying that you were going to introduce the red list. it's on just a fight. it's abrupt and it's not good for tourism,

for south africa was seen these regulations wave off last night. people up front to keep trying to get back into the south. african scientists say they're worried existing vaccines may not be effective, and the new variant may spread easily. genomics the weather in south africa has been outstanding throughout this whole pandemic period. and that's why we've been able to identify when changes occur, the fact that we are able to identify changes quickly is good news is good news for the world. but we must be careful that we don't then jumped the conclusion of, well, that equals, it came from here, it came from there. and it means that we need to understand much more about this. so far, dozens of infections have been identified in south africa. while in botswana, the government says the new virus was found in several foreign nationals on a diplomatic visit. while the sub african government says it respects the decision taken by the u. k. and the countries to limit travel to and from the region,

and that precautionary measures may be necessary. it says the decision is rushed, the most coaches in terms of imposing and such measures are completely against the norms and standards as guided by the organization. a possible 4th wave compounded by the new variant may further strain and already overwhelmed health system. in south africa, let me to mila, i'll just 0 janice, but well, well, much is unknown about the on the corner very, and let's take a look at what we do know? well, as we heard, it was 1st identified in south africa from a sample that came from a neighboring botswana. since then, more than a 100 confirmed cases have been detected in those 2 countries as well as hong kong, israel and belgium. the variant has $32.00 mutations on what's called the spike protein,

which is what the virus uses to invade ourselves. this means that spike protein is dramatically different than the one in the original corona virus. that code is 900 vaccines, a based on what dr. alpha thomas from the university of michigan, he says, there's reason to be hopeful, even if existing vaccines aren't as effective against the new very my optimism is really based on our experience with the different mutations that we have in the body and the the beta, the gamma and the delta that the vaccines were able to protect and were able to cover these money. and so i'm a domestic with regards to this one. do that. the vaccines will, to will be, will prove to be cation and effective against this one. if in the worst case scenario got this thing is not really recognized by the immunity that we gain from vaccination with the existing vaccine. we are talking about 2

weeks and we will have that in place. however, the issue is still the same. we have a big issue which is, who is going to get that 1st are, is these, are these going to reach those countries that until now have less than 10 percent vaccination with a existing vaccines available? so therefore, i think the issue continues to be vaccine at these countries and you cannot just sit back and get to see the 2 and 3 and 4 vaccinations. while some countries did not receive and not even one vaccination, this is not going to be sustainable. and mutations will continue to evolve and that's the risk that we all talked about for a long time. say, 3 people have been killed in the solomon islands, capital homie, ira, where they have been days of rioting. gangs have been setting buildings on fire and

trash and property demanding the prime minister's resignation. they say they're part of the pacific nation have been long, neglected by the government. there's also anger about the decision to switch diplomatic allegiances from taiwan to china. what sarah clark is covering the story from the australian city of brisbin, sarah. so what more details are emerging about these deaths? well, security guard found these bodies in 2 separate rooms and a boon house house. and it in the key area being chinatown, which was the flash point for the last few days of not just rocking but loosing. and some of the local report suggests that these 3 bodies may have been people or loses trapped inside that stone. our forensic investigation is under way to identify who these people are and of course, the cause of death. the other developing element on saturday is that the police have confirmed, there's made more than 180 people suspected of being involved in what they describing as raj related incidents and losing. we still can see widespread

ransacking and looting across honey finds us to burning, but there is relative calm when you compare it to the last couple of days. and that of course is partly due to an indefinite, not time tiffy that was put in place on friday evening to try and keep people inside and away from some of those areas that are being targeted. we've also got report to the prime minister isn't haughty, and may have even left the solomon islands purely for his safety on friday. we loses as well as will protest is targeting. he's home, he's residence and we've got the right place now that surrounded that particular area to try and protect him. but again, not the mentioned suggestions are, he's in haughty and the accusation. the cold coming from these anti government groups. i want him to stand down and they're accusing him of neglecting the provinces and all their demands, withholding of finances as well as not delivering on infrastructure. so the other develop, of course, we've got the next round of

a strain defense personnel who arrived in honey our that's what the company, gideon tricks to try and restore some order in the straits of the capital. yeah. and what's happening them with the ongoing protests. so he's like to continue. well, i haven't purchased it. it seems very quiet on saturday. in honey i certainly would be that movement is able to be there, but i think the, the fear or the defense personnel must have made or died cold. come so that the protests in the capitol, but we have the aftermath of course, 3 days of rising. and that means we've got people who are lacking in food supply as a lot of the the areas where the food was provided in chinatown. a lot of the stores by the been built down. i think the been forced to close as a result for the people trying to protect themselves in that district. so we've got people also believe lining out i teams. they can't get money out. of course, also petrol, so the red cross is another group that's help moving in and trying to very people

to try and help them restock their supplies. so it's not over. yes. the idea is trying to fit this know will be monitoring closely as well as the trips and pop in and getting and the local place trying to restore. we'll try and restore order, overcoming guys, but at the moment we are seeing some cam. alright. sarah clock in bozeman, sarah, thank it's if he appears prime minister has been meeting soldiers fighting against to grime, rebels in the north abbey, ahmed says his forces are making games. the government declared a state of emergency this month. as rebels moved closer to the capitol, the us and others of told their citizens to lead immediately drank a group to report. the front line is not an unfamiliar terrain for if he appears prime minister. by this time, i'll be amad who also holds the rank of lieutenant colonel, has returned to the battle field to rally his troops for what he calls. an existential war. video released by the government shows abi, with soldiers who are fighting against t guar and rebels in the,

off our region. because of the way without to what you see behind me is a mountain area that was a strong hold for the enemy until yesterday. now we've managed to clear the area fully. the morale of the defense forces is really great. the war is being undertaken with great feet. now we have taken cast, the gator to day we will take over schiffer and bercher. we will continue until 8th your peers. freedom is insured to pay more noise. since july, the rebels have been expanding the battle from inside t grey into neighboring m. herrera and afar regions. they have ceased towns that are a few 100 kilometres from the capital, addis ababa. they say the prime minister has lost his chance at peace, much using war. and the measures taken by our b of men, a desperate it would have been better for him to suggest solutions for peace and negotiations. yet he chose war. he should have upheld the opportunity for peace.

canada has now joined a coin list of countries who are asking the citizens to leave and make fears that the battle could move towards the capital and that the fighting could get a lot worse. prime minister abbey at modes. decision to move to a front line. apparently in the afa jen where fighting is not actually so serious at the moment, is apparently intended to galvanize his support base and mobilized new recruits for the armed forces. and that's not likely to be effective. i think many people may respond to the call, but this war is being fought with heavy weapons and, and in some cases, well trained battle heart and troops. so volunteers at this late stage were little training and few weapons and not going to make a difference. the civilians are already paying the price of if he appears here long conflict. more than 9000000 people are facing hunger. hundreds of thousands are on

the brink of famine. but so far, both sides have refused to back down why what the un calls the textbook definition of a humanitarian crisis continues to unfold. priyanka gupta, alta 0, lot more. so to come here now does air including will tell you why there isn't much enthusiasm, this weekend's parliamentary elections and koga stuff. and we look back at the life of legendary us composer, stephen sondheim is died at the age of 91 more. and that's fine. ah ah, look forward to brighter sky's the weather sponsored my cattle. it weighs hello the weather sitting rather dull and cool across northern parts of the middle east at the moment. this area cloud here could squeeze out sir,

few showers as we go on through the next day or so. maybe a little bit of that weather, just spilling out a turkey. heading over towards the caspian sea, we could see a shower or 2 just developing across northern parts of syria for a time northern areas of iraq. it was a chance to see some showers. and there we go, a little bit of a wind. she makes a good measure over the higher ground of afghanistan. further south, it is generally dry and find me has got that keen shamal wind blowing down the gulf . there are 4 dough hot temperatures getting up to about 27 celsius. so a little cool, a little fresher than of a lifted. dustin said to watch out for visibility is not particularly fantastic here. lottie dry across northern parts of africa, but up towards the northwest northern parts of algeria, we could see some wet weather or such as to some shower spilling of the atlas mountains into central parts of algeria could see some awake, localized flooding. as a result of that with a wet weather coming through one or 2 showers to just around southern parts of west africa. joining up with the showers that we have around the gulf of guinea, right?

the way across central africa could see some went whether there is a southern parts of somalia and also south africa. oh, the weather sponsored by casara always talk to al jazeera. we are. how would you describe taliban relationship with the us? we listen copied, mind tedious. nato, for coffee 19 has been terrible demonstration of the failure of humans so that we meet with global news makers and talk about the stories that matter on al jazeera, unprompted, and uninterrupted discussions from our london broadcast santa. ah, ah ah,

welcome back of her comment about top stories here. this out, the world health organization has named the new cobit 19 variant on the cross says it's concerned about it's many mutations. this suggests it may pose more of a risk than the delta variant, which is driving waves of infections around the world. more countries are restricting travel to and from south africa where other khan was 1st identified cases levels have been found in belgium, israel and hong kong. and at least 3 people have been killed in these solomon islands, capital hon yara, where they have been days of variety. gangs have been setting buildings on fire, trashing property to modern department of stuff, analysis of ari resigned. well more now on our top story, nothing baba reports on the reaction to the new cobit 19. very it's the news. no one wanted to hear the discovery of a new covey variant called ami krohn. first identified in south africa has hit

world stock markets as concerns grow about a new global threat. the world health organization has labeled it a variance of concern based upon the information that we have, particularly from south africa. and they have advised w h o that this variance should be classified as a variant of concern. so today we are now seeing b 11529 is the variance of concern named on the crime, the w h o cautioned against hasty counter measures for now, but many governments chose instead to act fast. early indications show this varied may be more transmissible than the dell to valid, and current vaccines may be less effective against it. it may also impact the effectiveness of one of our major treatments. one of the u. k. his lead by restricting travel from 6 southern african countries with the emerging all member states to follow suit. cases of a new variant have been confirmed in a growing list of countries including hong kong, israel and belgium. it is now important that all of us in europe act very swiftly.

the european commission has today proposed to member states to activate the emergency brake on travel from countries in southern african and other countries affected. of course travel restrictions are designed not to hold the spread of the variance. it's too late for that. but instead to buy time, this new variance is how much mutations that we've ever seen on crowd of ours. so 30 more compared to the original strain and about twice as many delta, it will take weeks to know all of that information. and we know that from previous studies on alpha delta that it takes time to understand the transmission infectiousness. it takes time to understand the severity in the weeks ahead, the world will hold its breath, waiting to find out whether the new variant is a dark turn in the pandemic or a false alarm. nadine baba al jazeera and of the world grappled with a potentially dangerous new coded 900 very and brazil,

the president says his country can't take another lockdown. j both scenarios. who's had cobit 19 but is denounced containment measures says new restrictions would only bring misery. but brazil shot it's bored after travelers arriving from 6 southern african nations. new veterans has not yet been found in overhead. anything can happen. there can be a new variant like this one or a new virus. people need to be prepared. the world and brazil cannot take, can you, lockdown, it would condemn every one to misery and misery kills when europe is once again, the epicenter of the pandemic on the netherlands is among the countries trying to bring down infection rates. the governments ordered bars, restaurants, and shops to close at night, triggering protests in the hague. there was no repeat of the riots in cities last weekend. hospital say they're getting overwhelmed and are cancelling surgeries to free up beds, a covet 19 patients. friends,

president emmanuel macro has accused british prime minister boris johnson, not being serious about migration to the english channel. the french have also disinvited the u. k. from a european crisis meeting. it's the latest deterioration and relations between the 2 neighbors. days off, at least $27.00 refugees and migrants drowned off northern france. but poor brennan is in dover where many refugees migrants arrive after crossing the channel. seeing these migrant boats up close here in a honda, it is easy to see just how inevitable wednesday's loss of life was. the 6 to 8 meter inflatable simply aren't designed to cross the treacherous waters of the english channel. but what was left foreseeable was how the initial political consensus that there needs to be closer cooperation between france and england to prevent these crossings happening has fallen apart in the space of just 3 days. britain's proposals included, for example, putting british police and potentially army on french beaches to help the french

patrol that stretch of coastline. but the french had been resisting that for the previous 2 days. so when bonus johnson formerly requested joint patrols, the reaction from the french was exasperation just critique to do as i spoke 2 days ago with prime minister barak johnson in a serious manner. on my end, i seek to continue doing as i do with any country in any head of states. i am surprised by methods when they are not serious ones. you don't communicate from a leader to another on these matters via tweets and letters. you are making public . we're not whistleblowers come on. boots on breeches appears to be one of the biggest burns of contention between the british and the french. specifically, britons ongoing prussia for the french to allow joint patrols along the french beaches in order to prevent the boats putting to see in the 1st place. but the french long resisted that idea, saying that the length of the coastline means that that's simply not practical. as well as the issue of sovereignty so embarrassed,

johnson included the beach patrol idea and a formal letter to president micron. and then similar tenuously tweeted, the less it's a social media. it had the impression of trying to bounce the french presidents into agreeing with the british perspective. what you did was sent out of fine, very good, clear if you take the time to read, unless you'll see this idea is makes it very, very clear that we want to work in cooperation handed glove with the french. i can't think of another way of resolving this other than to talk about it and additional measures in place. so close and yet, so far as things stand, brittany will be excluded from sundays meeting over there in kelly with the rest of the channel nations. there will be no new cooperation despite the appeals earlier in the week from president micron, a prime minister johnson, and nothing new to stop refugees and migrants attempting to make the treacherous crossing. these 2 countries, so close geographically, remained so very far apart on this thorny issue pull, brennan, al jazeera dover. russia has denied allegations by ukraine's president,

that the kremlin has been plotting to overthrow his government allowing me to lensky says he learned of the plan by his security services. without giving details . he told journalists that a crew was planned for next week, and that one of ukraine's wealthiest men was involved. it adds to tension in recent weeks about a russian military build up on the border with ukraine. 1000000 promises chappelle, which is lum nation, desirable did the me put them on. i can add that. not only do we have the information, but we even have audio recordings of representatives of ukraine. let's call them that discussing with, let's call them representatives of russia, a can ukraine, or char stratford in the ukrainian city of d f because he's been talking to the residence there about their fears of the deepening conflict. this is the town about the car, about 3 kilometers from the front line. it's seen so very heavy shilling and fighting in the mall 7 and a half years since this conflict started. many of the residents have played,

and many of them say the situation is got even worse in recent weeks since the reported build off of tens of thousands of russian troops on the russian side of the border. we in the last half an hour. so have heard what sounds like shelling in the distance. many of the residents here are increasingly angry with the president . they say that he is not doing enough to protect them, and he's not making as much of an effort as he promised to enter this war. lucy, would you still got the instrument was shell in today as the read every day? the situation has definitely got worse and there is shooting was heavy weapons for not just mal arm so much, nearly 8 years and no one can solve this fiction. the former president, he promised to end the war in 2 weeks and the same rubbish from president lamp. okay, what he said, come to the election and $29.00. if you get vote for me and i will finish everything in the year moment, but did he?

of course not. russia is stalsen denying that it has any plans whatsoever for the invasion of ukraine. indeed it is. describing reports in the international media is such as being nothing short of hysterical, but meanwhile, this seems to be no real prospect for a lasting political solution to this conflict. laser ones because also news. let's start the war. but he promised to finish it, and people believed him. things that got even worse now the children and the elderly die from mothers and fathers, a forced to shelter in that basement. lensky needs to negotiate with putin and the separatists. used to sit down and talk otherwise, how can pieces all wars and negotiations. so start russia accuses ukraine, had not sticking to its part of the to agreement and agreement signed in 2015. that stipulates that ukraine gives special political status to the air is controlled by the pro russian separatists. many of the ukrainian government say that that would

potentially give russia to greater hand in ukrainian affairs. meanwhile, the ukrainian presidents determination to eventually get nato membership for ukraine continues. and that is something that the russian president seems determined to stop, shall strap it out his era of the car. now on sunday voters and cook just now returning to the pole for a rerun of last year's parliamentary elections was held in 2020 spot. the revolution that unseat the government and saw a former prisoner saudi, or japan of become president for he now needs to gain a broader legitimacy and deliver on his promise of fair elections. same bizarre reports from biscuit snow before election, day freezing temperatures. another hurdle for people in the city of bush kept going to the polls to vote in parliamentary elections, turn out is expected to be dangerously low. in kurdistan,

doubts over the legitimacy of elections can quickly turn into violent protests, discontent over rising prices. the slow pace of promising frustrations that rural and urban voters share at a memorial dedicated to care gives people killed and past revolutionists. many say they won't vote this time. the gap and trust between them and their leaders too wide to cross is found nothing to lose. what makes us feel sorry is that laws are not working. even if we say this to the authorities, the legal system doesn't work. they don't listen to us. even if we have our own coal, our own gold, our own water, we are not in control of our resources. this is why we don't trust any member of parliament or any president, we're against all of them. those in the president's inner circle say it's too soon to pass judgment and undoing decades of corruption will take more time period as republic has grown up in missouri, adults in general. and so it will be a very confident and competent government. and our main goal is to improve

efficiency of the state. it's not going to be easy, but also a re accept. i accept the skeptical domestic opinion to make lasting change. the president will need support in parliament. the election will see clearly as people vote in 90 new m. p 's down from a 120 but even in its weakened state as a smaller part of a new shared system of power. kurdistan. parliament matters, had looked at, bought up, came out to power off following controversial events last year. and she needs to gain abroad and legitimacy within society. if he can deliver on his promise to conduct fair elections on an ensure that that part man ever presents society as a whole, he might enjoy a legitimacy for a longer period of time, sufficient for him to conduct the reforms. at his 5th, the government is keen to avoid the violence of protests of the past and with pulls

due to open on sunday. the country security service says it's rounded up 15 suspected qu, platters allegedly planning an armed overthrow of the government. the raids a show of strength seen by many as a warning to any one hoping to contest election results on the streets. a rubber stamping parliament marched towards one man rule preservation of democracy for voters. right now, these kinds of political concerns are secondary to more basic needs. in this country is in the grips of an energy crisis. and throughout the campaign, voters have been asking all the candidates the same question. what is being done to make sure there is enough power for them to stay warm? because winter is coming and days before the election winter is already here. zane bas ravi alta 0, michigan abbas crashing mexico has left at least 19 people dead. it was carrying pilgrim, so heading towards the town of ch elma, which was which is considered a sacred sight for roman catholics and peruvian archaeologists have dug up the

remains of a mummy whose thoughts have been buried before the ink and pie which is founded in the 1400s, they believe the remains were that of a man. there were discovered in an underground structure, east of the capitol, lena? the american composer, steven sondheim, has died at the age of $91.00. the lyricist is widely credited with reinventing musical theater. he co wrote broadway classics like west side story gypsy and sweeney todd sondheim, 18 tony awards more than any other composer ah . type of picture of the headlines here on al jazeera, the world health organization, has named new cobit 1000 variant micron and says it's concerned about it's many mutations. it suggests it may pose more of a risk than the delta variant, which is driving waves of infections around the world. more countries are a stretcher and travel to.