holden, untold stories from asia and the pacific on al jazeera ah . as the omicron variance spreads round the world, the european commission chief says it's time to consider compulsory cobra vaccinations . this needs discussion. this needs a common approach, but it is a discussion that i think has to be let ah, and earned taylor, this is andrew here, alive from london. also coming up. it's the debate that's divided the u. s. for years, a supreme court, his arguments are access to abortion, nato's hard line warning to russia. there'll be serious consequences if it uses force against ukraine. and uganda begins it's military offensive to hunt down an

armed group in democratic republic of congo. ah. and the current of ours case load in south africa has almost doubled in a day or an 8500 positive tests were recorded on wednesday up from about 4300 on tuesday. about 3 quarters of those cases. a thought to be the only cron variant, the u. s. has just announced its 1st on the chron case. discovery that variance is led to many countries closing their borders to travelers from southern africa, which the un secretary general, antonio quoterush in the past few minutes described as unfair and punitive. the head of the european commission says it's time for e u. member states to consider making cobra vaccinations. mandatory or a challenge? begins our coverage from london farm worker on his spooking europe with the delta variance, the continent is already the global epicenter, the coven pandemic. again,

lead is worried. what extra was the new variance may bring? despite hastily enforce travel restrictions, so sama considering new policies like legally mandating citizens to get vaccinated . i think it is understandable and appropriate to lead this discussion. now, how we can encourage and potentially think about mandatory vaccination within the european union. this needs discussion. a 3rd, if you citizens, a 150000000 people remain on vaccinated to many police on the land in order. what science tells us already is that full vaccinations and boosters provide the strongest protection against cover that is available. now there's a heading that way to austria is bringing in. mandatory vaccinations, eighteens in february, and this is the man replacing anglo merkel is germany's chancellor. the b service.

because what we need is a legislative procedure where every member of parliament, according to his or her conscience on a general mandatory vaccination, the germans, it's horn about it in the finish on as i'm against mandatory vaccination, i think everyone should be able to decide for themselves as i'm from sorry, scepter from in the beginning i was skeptical because i believe everyone should be able to decide for their own body. but now, unfortunately, it appears there's no other way out of this pandemic, one country that is very unlikely to go down the roots of mandatory vaccinations is the united kingdom. yes, the booster program is now being extended to anyone over the age of 18. but the government rejected the idea of vaccination passports, and even just making face masks mandatory again on public transport and in shops only past 3 parliament with much grumbling and abstaining from conservative m. p. 's. without crohn. there are 3 big questions without answers yet,

how transmissible is it, how severe is it? and how well will the current vaccines work? there is still a lot of uncertainty around on the crown, and this data will come in and there are scientists around the world that are studying this. but there is no indication to suggest that the vaccines won't work even if there is a reduction in efficacy. it's still better to have the vaccine because it will save your life. the w h. i says everything that is being done to combat delta. the dominant strain worldwide should be applied and strengthened for omicron. and in the days to come, we should know better. what we're dealing with, rory helen's. how does era london? ah, nature's warning. russia of serious consequences, including sanctions, if the country uses any force against ukraine. sexual general again, stolen berg says moscow would face a high price for any aggression nato officials and pharmacists held talks in latvia

as capital riga, concerns about a russian military build up on the ukrainian border dominated discussions. russia backs separatists and eastern ukraine, and contractors killed about 14000 people in the past 7 years in the future versus what you would call the hi ross, a serious political oh, make it calls. it was for russia, georgia on your brain. always founding on close legal partners with your missions on operations on aspiring for a membership ministers made a fear that we stand by our resistance or support for the sovereignty. world integrity right away. and we remain committed to enhance those more people convers rush. as far mr. accused ukraine,

m stoking aggression towards moscow to get the western vote. you fool so no, so, so body body keith is becoming increasingly insolent in its aggressiveness towards the midst agreement, the russian federation, and its attempts to provoke the west to support its military ambitions. how can we go on working like this? you make no mistake about what's really going on with our quote unquote partners are promising us and what that actually turns into the field, but we will never lose composure. might be shane smith is following reaction from the russian capital laska, russia's activity and build up along the border with ukraine continues as a 2nd time they've done not this year. and russia now says, some $10000.00 troops are going to be involved in winter maneuvers coming soon. those maneuvers at 30 different locations in russia building that includes a long eastern part of ukraine. russia's border with ukraine and bella rushes southern border with ukraine as well. so russia is keeping up the pressure on

ukraine and on nate. so as it goes, as particularly as a lot of goes for a meeting with antony blink and install come on thursday. the u. s. supreme court has been hearing arguments in what's been termed the most important abortion case in a generation pro and anti abortion rights campaign, is protesting outside the court. eventual decide whether to uphold a 2018 mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy and women's right to terminate a pregnancy was established in 1973 in a case known as roe vs wade. how does your castro joins us live from washington d. c. how do you, what did the argument center on today all or they were 2 and a half long hours of arguments to day after a nearly 50 year. wait, in anticipation from the anti abortion movement. who see this as the very best opportunity to overturn roe vs wade, which as you said,

was that landmark hayes in 1973. that gave american women the constitutional right to an abortion in the united states. and to day before this panel, it's a 63 conservative majority, 3 of whom were appointed by former president donald trump, who he, he explicitly said he was taking justices who would overturn roe vs wade. and so the panel was cognizant of the politics surrounding this with sonya. so to my, your a liberal justice saying it would be difficult for the court to escape the stench of the politics here. but we heard from one of those trump appointed justices breck cavanaugh, who said that it was important for the justices to remain neutral. on the question of abortion, he wasn't laser focused rather on whether or not a the court could overturn a president, a legal argument. then we heard from chief justice john roberts, who may be the ultimate swing vote here, and he

a cassim to be going more down the middle asking questions about whether not to overturn roe vs wade, but to be able to enforce restrictions on abortions at us at a shorter time of gestation, like this 15 week ban in mississippi. so that the ruling here, we're not expecting it for another few months, possibly not until june. but certainly this is a landmark case and the implications will be great. and on not what, what will happen if the supreme court does uphold the mississippi abortion restriction? right, so mississippi is asking, not only for their rule to be upheld, but they're asking for ro versus way to be overturned in completely, which means i would give the green light to any state in this country to immediately ban abortion. and there are at least 12 conservative states that have laws written, they're called trigger laws that would immediately ban almost all abortions in

those states. in fact, the majority of states are moving in that direction with republican control legislatures. so there were plenty of protests on both sides were expecting more protesters yet. in the book, the polling shows in the united states, the majority of people do support when they have women having the right to an abortion. but that anti abortion movement, which has an organized and growing in recent decades, it has been strong. it has been waiting for this day and they say that they were well prepared. i need your help. sure, thank you very much. indeed. as we mentioned a few minutes ago, the u. s. is detected, it's 1st case of the current of ours. on the con, variant infectious disease is ex, but so trying to fight, she has been talking and mike has been listening and he joins us live, washington, d. c. so what did the fact she say? well let's just go through the details of what dr. far she has just said within the last few minutes, and that is that it has been confirmed that the u. s. now has its 1st case of the

on the chronic very and it was discovered in california, the individual concerned traveled back from south africa. on november, the 22nd. he was diagnosed on november the 29th at the regional hospital. and then the cdc has confirmed the genetic sequencing confirming that it is in fact that on the chronic very and now the good news and all of this, according to doctor g, is that the patient was vaccinated is showing very not severe symptoms. and in fact, improving the patient is in self isolation. at this particular time, doctor poetry went on to say this just emphasizes how necessary it is for everybody to get vaccinated to isn't. and very importantly, for those who are vaccinated to get a boost shot, which talked about c insists, will relieve the severity of any infection. should the virus be contracted? doctor power pointing out that there are some 60000000 americans who could be

vaccinated, who are not facts unaided at this particular time. this is what dr. bouchee had to say. the individual was a traveler who returned from south africa on november the 22nd and tested positive . on november the 29th. the individual is self quarantining and all close contacts have been contacted and all close contacts. those 4 have just the negative. the individual was fully vaccinated and experienced miles symptoms which are improving at this point. so this is the 1st confirmed case of coven 19 caused by the con variant detected in the united states. well, the doctor found, she also said that the cdc has not found any other cases of this particular very and of course it is keeping looking the doctor poetry had continually said that it is not a question of whether there in the united states, but rather

a win and this now confirmed the us has its 1st patient with the um, the crown virus doctor about indicating that this could be the 1st of many but importantly in this particular patient showing that the symptoms are less severe that the patient is getting better. and this is doctor, she is a real indication of why people should get vaccinated, why they should keep, get the booster shot to keep the severity lesson. my kind of thank you very much. still coming out or 0. i am rob mcbride in western afghanistan at the border crossing with iran. that's been up a rama to of the volatility on both sides of the frontier maintenance on the west bank. israel's non official system data basing palestinians using face cameras and apps. ah,

the more rain on the way for flood stricken areas of northern spain. hello everyone. let me show you this picture was also got snow through the parent needs as well. and a lot of this, what, whether it's diving down into northern africa, we'll talk more about that in a 2nd unsettled conditions across the valley. eric's as well, but i do want to take you to italy, weather alerts out because we're going to see the rain pile up for central parts of the country. this includes for rome, also unsettled for the other side of the adria to see some bursts of rain to be expected. here, we'll call it most star rate through into the broadneck. that western side of greece is also going to get some of this driving rain filter in over the g. and same goes for turkey, a scattering of showers for is mirror bio. my temperature is across turkey. have dropped with that cold front anchor at 8 degrees. see that when pick up through the

boss 1st, but nothing like we saw just a few days ago. take it to northwestern europe right now, that cold ra northwind really driving down temperatures. and we've got snow swirling around the baltic states weather alerts out here to, for a lot the just looking at some ice conditions and snow really plaguing some of these parts over to north africa. right now, some heavy rain northern morocco into northern algeria. alger. it's the height of 14, that's it. see soon, ah! secret himalayan summit. more treacherous than everest. combo karna has never been tamed, reviewed and feared by locals. yet an irresistible challenge to west and climbers, a sharper family must choose between going against their religious beliefs and guiding a group of mountaineers,

or rejecting much needed income. the wall of shadows on al jazeera. ah ah, my new top stories, yeah, now j 0. you chief says it's time for the block to consider making code 19 vaccinations. mandatory. the u. s. has just announced its 1st case of the on the con variant, both pro and anti abortion rights activists are protesting at the u. s. supreme court is deciding whether to uphold a mississippi law banning most terminations. after 15 weeks. a nature is warning russia of serious consequences including sanctions. if the country uses any force against ukraine, concerns about

a military build up at the border dominated discussions, and lack is capital, rigor tanks and other heavy machinery have been seen crossing into democratic republic of congo. as uganda stepped up, attacks against an armed group and launched a joint campaign against the allied democratic forces with the congolese army on tuesday, targeting camps in the east with eta and artillery strikes. buchan web, the fort ugandan troops, tanks and armored vehicles have crossed the border into democratic republic of congo. the 2 governments say they're going to hunt down an armed group called the allied democratic forces, or adf. you can the government claim the 80 s a 3 suicide bombings, kansas capital can paula? 2 weeks ago, several people died. dozens were injured. it's not the 1st time you've gotten his army has been in congo. it invaded 25 years ago, along with wonder. been accused of plundering minerals and meddling on and off ever

since we've seen in the past. you've gotten the has not always had the best interest of the common lease population in mind, nor did it really want to stabilize the eastern dear see. but what we see now is but apparently president the security has given the green light to this operation, which gives it a bit of a different character than previous intervention by the governance in easton d r. c. the adf originated, and you got there in the 19 ninety's for 3 decades. is hayden, when the forest of ethan congos, profiting from timber and minerals wines 2 years ago, have pledged allegiance to iso? well, that the extent of the connection isn't clear. in recent years, it's become notorious for massacring thousands of civilians in the villages around the city of benny. people of north keyvi province, a tired of the violence. congress army said it would stop the killings. it introduced martial law in the region 6 months ago. but it hasn't worked. that's why some people and now welcoming the gun, that armies arrival others,

a skeptical. the 1st thing that the population is looking for is protection. they want them to, to end. and that can be only possible if the protection of civilian is the 1st object are not clear how easily the adf can be flushed out of its forest high downs, or how long you've got the army plans to stay. malcolm web out his era. the european union is launched, a multi $1000000000.00 scheme to rival china is vast and influential. belton road initiative. the venture will see investment in digital transport and energy projects, giving countries what european commission president slough on the line describes. a true tentative, don't it. kane, as well from valid the point of the e u is trying to make with this new initiative is helping countries bring their

level of infrastructural development up. and that, that's is going to be a major boost for the world's economy. we know that from the chinese government's perspective, their hope is that the belton road initiative, which is the effectively the rival as it were to what is being proposed in brussels, is aiming to reach fruition by 2049. the 100 anniversary of the communist party taking control of mainland china. so that's from one perspective. we know also the chinese government is already invested a very considerable amount of money the last time that's an announcement of money was made, was in 2019. when she gin ping announced a $127000000000.00. no fresh announcements from bay ging since then. the question is how this will play out what countries will wish to align themselves with the chinese perspective, and which will want to align themselves with the e use perspective. remembering that there are those in europe in the united states

who have real concerns about china's investment in other countries around the world . that's house of view. this announcement from brussels representatives from the us and the taliban of matching cutter, where they discussed the humanitarian crisis in afghanistan. taliban pressed us officials to release financial assets and remove sanctions. the u. n. refugee agency is urging countries to open their borders to afghanistan, m. c. because as a domestic situation deteriorates, robert bryan traveled to the african board a ton of ism color, which is seen a recent surge or people crossing in both directions with its cross border traffic and people in goods. islam hello provides a good indicator of the problems facing both afghanistan and iran. the surge of people trying to leave afghanistan as the taliban took over, has eased in recent weeks, assign according to those guarding this crossing. the conditions have improved. oh,

come governor, come find whatever problems the migrants had ordered. they've been solved for vehicles, including trucks are moving freely again with that sort of considering this is such a sensitive crossing things on the border itself are pretty relaxed before now. we as visitors, would have been held way back several 100 meters and several fences inside afghanistan. now we are allowed to approach up to the borderline itself. the last, how about and checkpoint is right here. this is where i'm going to stand and beyond here is iran. and taliban officials were eager to show us how they are also tackling smuggling and illegal migration across this 1000 kilometer border. but in the nearby major city of had that there's a constant line of people that side the iranian consulate, hoping to get visas to leave. and here and throughout the country makes shift camps

of internally displaced. people have sprung up as the new government struggles to cope bussey kids of a sudden moped winter is now sitting in. if there is any kind of humanitarian assistance from whatever country we would appreciate and acceptance about the back at the border coming in the opposite direction. is a steady stream of afghan deportees from iran. many of the victims of iran's long standing program, a forced repack creation because of its own worsening economic crisis article. but again, it's my 1st time back and again, it's 10 after 20 years. look at me and all these people around me have experienced lots of problems in iran, but they're now joined by more recent arrivals who fled after the taliban takeover? actually, i was obligated to leave my country. my house leave people like nasa on behalf a who refuses iranian soldiers of mistreating him. and actually i was trying to get

to europe. but at the time when i was getting to iran, i got so difficult. the soldiers all for the border of huron. have trying to kill you or just arrest you when they are rescued, they will punish move. they will give you as punishment as an animal. 2 months after leaving. he's back where he started, but says he won't be long before he's on the move once more. rob mcbride al jazeera islam halla afghanistan. iraq's supreme court is due to ratify the results of october's election, which saw she looked at her a southern political block when the most seats and parliament. the election commission announced the final results on tuesday after weeks of recounting, confirmed as others need. but with his movements securing a 7 to 3 seats after 329, but supported of pro iranian infections, refusing to accept the final tally. would hon. head has more for approaches,

social capital bank that following the announcement of iraq's parliamentary elections results. these protested as the supporters of the pro iranian she are political parties that last many seats in the elections, they say that they're totally rejecting the results, and they're demanding the electoral commission to conduct a manual recount of old at the voice. now, on the other hand, the electoral commission says that it's moving forward with submitting the final results to the federal court for final endorsements. it says that it has received more than 1400 appeals from a political party. it has turned down most of them, but based on a number of them, it has conducted 2 phases of a manual recount of a disputed votes. it says that it has conducted a manual recount of about 27 percent of the votes, and that has led to change in only 5 seats. but those newly added

5 candidates after the manual recount they do not represent there for iranian political parties, no plan or a lovely rule, remain opponents of the upcoming government who consider it legitimate as it was brought forth by vote rigging. our enemy is the judge an adversary at the same time . oh, well, so these protests are to say that there was continued protesting. here, there was continued setting up tents near by the dad's giddeons on until the electoral commission conducts manual recount of all the votes. most of these protest as our members are emitted to individuals, members of the popular and mobilization forces, the military feelings of the pro, iranian. she are political process and they're, they're worried that if they're political parties are not taking part in forming their new upcoming government. then they might be dissolved, is,

is advancing its system of surveillance in the occupied westbank by including face scanning cameras and smartphone apps for misery. soldiers say they've been ordered to photograph palestinians to build a digital database of the population policy and says yet another invasion of their privacy. you know abraham reports for hebron even before. yes, edible man he presents his identification card at. this is really checkpoint. the soldiers already knew who he is, he has to cross this checkpoint to get to his house in hebron, in the south of the occupied west bank. many cameras monitor his journey home. they're a part of an advanced israeli surveillance system that includes face scanning cameras and like tracking the cameras are so close to asters house. he says his family has lost any sense of privacy and the but all the stuff that we had. she threw curtains before. all the choir changed him after i heard an israel soldier say i can zoom in train house. i want

a little and see what happens inside. in addition to these cameras that have been put up by the israeli army, just the meter down, residents tell us that is really circulars have put up another surveillance system here in hebron, in 2019 the israeli military acknowledged this non official system exists. no children here don't feel safe in their own homes. a few months ago israeli soldiers rated this house, walk the children up here to take the pictures of palestinians. osceola, just as the surveillance system shows how much these radio occupation controls palestinians ought fi. lini melanie, we are looking at a generation of palestinians who is anxious, angry, and filled with fear. they feel their lives are useless. and on top of their asked to smile to their occupiers. he is really army has installed visible and hidden cameras across the west bank and told edges. eda, it's for security reasons. the army doesn't comment on its capabilities. but

palestinians believe there are thousands of cameras monitoring them. recently. some israeli soldiers revealed be photographed palestinians. these photos are then used for a smartphone app called blue woof. the app matches the photos to the person's details in the system and alert folders if the person is wanted for arrests is really organization breaking. the silence collected the soldiers, testimonies. the most shocking thing for me, for us, was to hear that we are assumed, you know, our thoughts are through comb, military uniform beep against each other or who takes more a 4th of all while we're on the list groups, even in their homes, palestinians like yasser see the feel violated? he fears israel might use the private data to evict his family out of their house. that rahim al jazeera had brought him in the occupied westbank. a record number of earthquake sabrina, recorded on the spanish island of la paloma. where have okay. no has been erupting for more than 2 months. drone footage,

released by spain's national police shows sway it's of land covered by ash. officials say about 2700 buildings have been damaged or destroyed. ah, the top stories are now to 0. acre and of ours caseload in south africa has doubled in a day, will an 8500 positive tests were recorded on wednesday. at 3 quarters of those are thought to be the only cron variant of you chief says it's time for the block to consider making co 19 vaccinations. mandatory cases are on the rise across the continent, which is currently at the center of the pandemic. it is under.