and the bookmaker africa direct on al jazeera ah al jazeera where is a whole i south africa corona virus cases double to 8500 in a day. most of them from the army kron variance. the united states identifies its 1st case of a con in a traveler from south africa with house experts pushing for vaccinations over a travel band. ah, and hasn't taken this is al, just live from the house that coming up. the european union unveils

a $340000000000.00 plan to rival china's belts and road infrastructure project. the women's tennis association, suspends all tournaments in china, of a concern for player pung shrine. on nearly a week, after alerting the world of a new code with 19 varying south africa was new corona, virus cases have doubled in a day about 3 quarters of the 8500 are thought to be the army kron variance. many countries of impose travel bands on southern african countries, which the un secretary general has called deeply unfair and ineffective. what is in except the bullies to have one part of the world. that is one of the most vulnerable parts of the world economy condemned to a lockout when they were the

ones that revealed the existence of a new variant. that by the way, already existed in other parts of the world, including in europe as we know. so this is a very strong appeal to file arch appeal to common sense. we have the instruments to have safe travel. let's use those instruments to avoid this kind of or allow me to say travel appetite or european commission president. ursula von de leon is calling on the european union to consider mandatory vaccinations to how fight the rise in cases. several you nations have already announced booster shots and plans to vaccinate children. the army con variant has now been reported in at least 24 countries. the united states as recorded its 1st case alan fisher, is in washington with more on that that man arrived in the united states in

california on the 22nd of november from south africa. that, of course, before the travel bands were put i 3 p. m. public health, the experts had the sample by 8 p. m. the confirmed it was the new vivian at you. remember that when covered was found in the united states, it was also forced on the west coast. now this man is an isolation. his close contacts have tested negative, but of course track in trace is underway. and as i say, he arrived before the travel bands were put in place and to be photo. the presidential adviser on cobra was asked about those travel bands. at a briefing at the white house in the last few hours, he said the intention was never to stop it arriving in america. that was simply never going to happen. we knew that it was just a matter of time. before the 1st case of arm, a crown would be detected in the united states. and as you know, we know i've been saying it in my colleagues on the medical team and other 7 saying

that we know what we need to do to protect people get vaccinated if you're not already vaccinated, get boosted if you've been vaccinated for more than 6 months with an i'm or an 8 or 2 months with j and j. and all the other things we've been talking about, we're getting your children vaccinated. masking in indoor congregate settings. are the women's tennis association has suspended tournaments in china and hong kong. it says the decision was made to due to concerns about the safety of former doubles world number one pung shrine. in a statement, the w t. a had said players and staff could face risks in china. a reminder of events, since punctuation disappearance on november 2nd, she accused for my chinese vice premier shang go ali of sexually assaulting her via social media. that post was late to deleted. 11 days later, chinese state media released a video of the 35 year old dining at

a restaurant in beijing. double ga said the footage was insufficient proof of her safety. a few days later, some of the top names in the sport voiced concerns about punk safety. under increasing pressure from human rights groups, china responded by saying, pangs disappearance is not a diplomatic question. and on november 21st, the international olympic committee chief, held a video call with pung, said she appeared to be fine. the critics are not, we're not convinced. pang was able to speak freely. oh yes, he was. he is a senior research and human rights watch. she is applauding the w t decision. so much respect, because this is what standing up for human rights in china looks like this is what integrity looks like. this is what leadership looks like. i mean, we saw the video clips and pictures of her mining, but we have not heard from her directly. she has not talked to her friends,

not ok. press conference. she has not spoken directly. so i would say, you know, she's alive. she lives in beijing or whether she is safe, whether she's, you know, free. we can't tell. i absolutely hope that a more international course organizations in the national business will follow suit follow w t lead than ever like in china and not be complicit if human rights violations in china, especially i'll say the international olympic committee who participated in this public and the video was shot. it's really shameful. we've seen that 40 year from engagement with china. what had come out of it is cransberg to hong kong in serious crocodiles in crime against humanity. she appears correct out in hong kong. now i've been disappear. she's a huge star and she can be disappeared so that it's definitely not working. so we do something differently. on the european union has launched

a 340000000000 dollar scheme to rival china's vast and influential belt and road initiative. the venture will see investment in digital transport and energy projects, giving countries what european commission president ursula vonda lan, cause a true alternative for major investment in infrastructure development around the world. we want to take a different approach. we want to show that a democratic value driven approach can deliver on the most pressing challenges we want to show that it can on one hand, meet not local needs. but also on the other hand, to tackle the global challenges we have. and thus, in a way also of course benefit the european union because global gateway is also about our strategic interests around the world. it's

a new strategic approach to investment on dominic cane is in berlin with moral is 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. and that it's not necessarily to be seen as a rival or an alternative to what the chinese government has had in place for many years. now. certainly, that's not the impression that has to lafond a lion has been seeking to convey to people. this is how she referred to this new global gateway proposal. when she spoke a while ago. we want to show that a democratic value driven approach can deliver on the most pressing challenges. we want to show that it can, on one hand, need not a local needs,

but also on the other hand, to tackle the global challenges we have. and thus in a way also of course benefit the european union. because global gateway is also about our strategic interests around the world. what will the reaction b in b ging to what is being announced in brussels? we know that from the chinese government's perspective, their hope is that their 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 already invested a very considerable amount of money. the last time that's an announcement of money was made, was in 2019. when she jan 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 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 how to view this announcement from brussels. i let's talk now to a scott morris. he is a senior fellow at the center for global development, and he joins us now from washington. thanks living with us. so, 1st off, what are the advantages that this initiative would have potentially over china? of a, china's project? what, what would it, what would it off and the china doesn't? well, 1st of all, it does offer scale, right? and i think that it will be attracted to the developing world. i think it holds the promise and then at least been the rhetoric so far we hear about higher quality

projects. i think that that will be in the details for that exactly what the project sponsors mean by that in terms of quality and actually delivering better infrastructure certainly more environmentally sensitive infrastructure. i think we will be things to look out for is the you up to this challenge with all of its various said decision making bodies and some would say bureaucracies are, well again we have an announcement, b, u does not started. it has a track record, providing substantial sums of financing in the developing world. so i don't think we should be too skeptical. this is a big number. i think it, it recognizes considerable an edition, but they're not starting from 0. did the, the, the chinese initiative that the bell belts and road initiative has been going for

several years now? it would be you be kind of playing catch up to some extent with this project. well, i think there is more of the challenge and china, frankly, also with other countries in the united states, even japan, that it may be that there is a lot of new money chasing relatively few projects. it can be very hard to do. the very large multimillion dollar infrastructure projects in developing countries, particularly in an environment as we see today where, where the deb risks are quite high and a large number of countries. i think there will be a challenge in part, just catching up with china, been chasing after the same project with, with multiple countries and sponsors. and when you says that this is a values based, transparent approach is this, perhaps not so subtle?

dig at china and the way it's been doing business is certainly we know very well. now. the chinese approaches play with key problem. then a lack of transparency is one of them. there is, every day we learn about problems in countries where there wasn't even awareness of an underlying eventually came to like. so i think it is right to go after the weaknesses of chinese financing and then point to a better approach. particularly as a way potentially to bring chinese standards could to get your thoughts on as scott morris. nice to me was my pleasure. all right. still ahead on al jazeera,

mass raids in belarus rights groups, accused the government of cracking down on descent security or invasion of privacy. why some for my israeli soldiers say they were ordered to photograph palestinian ah look forward to brighter skies. the with sponsored play cuts on her ways. hello. thank you for joining in your world's weather report. begins on the sub continental, started off in india, both coasts will be dealing with a lot of rain in the days to come. so 1st stop this disturbance in the arabian sea, throwing rain toward maharaj, dry goods or at were under amber weather alerts. could see about a $100.00 to $200.00 millimeters of rain in the days to come. then we've got this cookin up in the bay, then gall, likely to become a psychotic storm as it slams into entrepreneur dash

o dish. and west bank gall flooding will be a concern here. speaking about flooding, we have seen it on so the ways the about $900.00 homes destroyed landside reported a deadly landside in west javin. the rain is still coming for jakarta with a hiv $31.00 degrees. seen a lot of rain for central areas of vietnam, almost a meter of rain that's destroy $2500.00 homes. things are starting to dry off to hang a hive. 24 degrees on thursday. high pressure is carving out. sunny skies across says central and also eastern areas of china. so not much to report here. and the rain has made a clean sweep across areas of japan, but look at this some see and do snow for the western side of honshu and hope hydro is wall and burn. we've got some chilly temperature support. oh, just a high of to that's it. see you soon. lou with sponsored by katara, always a going ecologist, working as a volunteer in the areas of conflict. he's not only

a school. he's also known for delivering babies to women who medical services are limited. you're truly a doctor of humanity and hope to see world was the don't to to mission with don't to with ah, the log in you're watching as a reminder of our top stories this out south africa daily corona virus cases have doubled to more than 8500 in a day, most of the infections are thought to be of the new cobra. 1900 variance. the u. s

. has reported its 1st on the cron case. the women's tennis association is suspended torments in china and hong kong, over concerns about the safety of former w world. number one punch. why? she accused the former vice prime eat premier of caressing her into sex and was not seen in public for moving 2 weeks. the european union's launch, the $340000000000.00 scheme to rival china's belton road initiative, european commission, president of the land cause it a true alternative involves investment in digital transport and energy of the polish parliament on wednesday began debating you bill that would ban all abortions, it prompted protests by women's rights activists earlier in the week of poland enacted a strict abortion law last year. terminations are only allowed in cases of rape or incest. or if the woman's life or health is endangered,

tens of thousands of people protested at the beginning of november after a 30 year old woman died after being refused and abortion the hospital has defended its decision. b, e u has condemned the law and called on warsaw to ensure no more women die because of the restrictions. well, agnes sha coogel is electra in sociology at the school of love on an east european studies at the university college london. she says an anti abortion rights organization wouldn't have brought the bill to parliament if there was no chance it would pass the n g a. would an organize this a legislative initiative? if it didn't realize that there was parliamentary arithmetic to pastelo, there was some idea. there is some hope that this draconian law can be passed. i just really need to stress the foundation of this new proposed bill. 3

followed the current law that allows abortion and the very, very limited circumstances that will be scrapped completely, that abortion i will be criminalized. and the terminating pregnancy will be equal to homicide, including the punishment of the work of the woman. and who will then be a could be found guilty of homicide. and that brings them to prison sentence between 2 and 12 years. and that will be possible because of the 3rd foundation of the law that the law will expand the definition of a person and a human being, and incorporate that a prenatal antenatal stage. so the definition of a human being or a person will be for all conception to natural death. so this, this law would be extremely truck hauling in, even in my opinion for the current government. but as i said,

i think the most likely scenario is that the law will be pushed into the common piece of federal deliberation and it will come back, it's quite likely to come back again. are human rights group, say authorities and belarus have rated the homes of dozens of journalists and activists. more than 800 people are report to the already in prison for political reasons. since a government crackdown last year, step vasa reports from bella, riches capital minsk, not collided. blogger and comedian fatty mattie was arrested last august when he had a meeting with teenagers about the new skateboard track, he was sentenced to 25 days for organizing a sports event. and i'll face a serious charges like insulting the president and promoting extremist activities that could keep him in prison for years when you will bill up, but he has 46000 subscribers, but he's not a politician. he's a person who loves and respects the truth. he's a lawyer by education and an honest kind person. i believe such people should be

cherished. when i heard his sentence, i asked the investigator, if you are arresting these kinds of people, what kind of society we're going to live in a question many and bella, who are asking as the country, continues to faith awake of arrests on wednesday homes of dozens of journalism after this and at least 9 cities were rated and what seems to be the biggest one day crack down in month does all in response to mass protest against the election for last year. luca shanker recently admitted that many were arrested, then have been tortured for month protests, a school for change was loud and clear here at this monument. it meant that if it's been silenced, and many have flat bellows on living in fear, this is a country controlled by one man, and many say give them the crack down after the election. and the recent michael and crisis, it's clear that people do anything to stay in power. someone who has not been silenced is maria colette sneak over at the forefront of election protests. yes, and i'll be in jail for 11 years for aiming to overthrow the state. that freedom is

the most important thing is something my generation did not understand. now i know what my daughters are doing. what young people are doing is what we should have done from prison. his daughter communicate through postcards they took, maria knows in our family. we love to beatles. she sent me regard from harrison from mccartney. colette sneak over high spirits despite her prison sentence has inspired many, and bella was, she famously ripped up her passport to avoid deportation. i really wish that europe and the rest of the world would give all or for political prisoners high priority. i'm sure most of the people, maria, friends, my whole family, we all along in for change and it will come. but for now the crack down on bella, russian society continues. recently this magazine for healthy living was banned one of 270 civil organizations that have been shut down. still 75 year old active is

nina parkins guy he had during last years. demonstrations refuses to concede the protest movement as last to where you soon the regime has betrayed its people. 100 percent. i'm sad about what's happened, but i still believe at the end of the day, like all other empires. this one supported by moscow will collapse as well, pretty much blogger, fatty mattie, and hundreds of other prisoners. this moment can come soon enough. steadfast and al jazeera in minsk. at least 3 members of the taliban had been killed that iran's border with afghan. it's done several iranian border guards will also engine during the confrontation. iranian media is 14, the violence escalated after the taliban opens fire on iranian farmers. in libya, the 1st round of presidential elections are set for later this month. but some say the vote will only further deepen political divisions need as ambassador to the

united nations says libya is not ready to hold elections. and duncan, jed, roku, dear, good lake county, the conditions for free, credible democratic consensual elections, which will be an important length for the return of peace and stability. and libya and not for the moment met the foreign fighters, the still on libya. the old dividing line of conflict remains frozen. there's not really a re unification in terms of the forces involved on the situation is not mature enough to allow this type of election or type of election that can lead to a perennial stability and security and libya. fin, yup, malik. china is in tripoli with more on the upcoming elections. this school and triply will soon become a pulling station. wednesday is the deadline for registered voters to pick up their voter cars ahead of the 1st round of presidential election scheduled for december 24th. it'll be the 1st presidential election in libya, history,

and more than 2000000 people have received their voter cards so far. but the vote has been marred by controversy. some say holding presidential elections without a constitution will only plunge the country into further violence. this crowd has gathered in front of the election commission headquarters, calling for the vote to be postponed until a constitutional referendum takes place without a constitutional foundation. and in a nation of the one you cannot conduct a problem. and you tell alexey this is abc it is the very beginning, nessa and democracy. you have to have a constitution, which is a great respect identified as into the okay, for this and look at this in next in a proposal. nixon, it is very dangerous for democracy that is dangerous for us of an estate, and we think that is or is making this election belt going for an obese for my not

. libya has been engulfed in violence and political divisions of the revolution that toppled wall market daffy in 2011. with warlord khalifa after controlling the oil rich region of eastern libya and the internationally recognized government of unity in the west led by prime minister of the hamid debate. both men are among scores of candidates running in the elections across libya. people have mixed feelings about had it. in my opinion, presidential elections right now should not take place. you shouldn't have presidential elections before the parliamentary elections and there should be a constitution on the money. i'm in favor of these elections. at least the situation will get better. we want our country to move forward. in my opinion, it's the only way to end the violence. just 3 weeks ahead of the vote. libyans are

still deeply divided. there's international pressure for the elections to move ahead of schedule. but without the constitution in place, many here feel presidential election will only prolong the conflict. now, trina, 0 tripoli. israel is advancing its system of surveillance in the occupied west bank by including face scanning cameras for me as rarely soldiers say they've been ordered to photograph palestinians to build a digital based database of the population. palestinians say it is yet another invasion of their privacy. neither abraham has moved from 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 yes, his house,

he says his family has lost any sense of privacy. indeed, 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 into a 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 residence, dallas. that is really settlers have put up another surveillance system here in hebron, in 2019 the israeli military acknowledged this. nun official system exists. no, children here don't feel safe in their own homes. few months ago israeli soldiers rated this house, walk the children up here to take the pictures of alison years. osceola just says the surveillance system shows how much the israeli occupation controls palestinians up thought. the hint 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. these 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 wool. the app matches the photos to the person's details in the system and alert soldiers if the person is wanted for arrest. is really organization breaking. the silence collected the soldiers, testimonies, the most. a shocking thing for me, for us, was to hear that we are sending in our thoughts to compete military units to compete against each other for who takes more a 4th of all while it's dinner and in the streets, even in their homes. palestinians like yasser see, they feel violated when he fears israel might use the private data to evict his

family out of their house. that rahim elijah's eda had brunner in the occupied west bank. ah. this is edge 0. it's got a round up now the top stories south africa's daily corona virus cases have doubled to more than $8500.00. mostly infections are thought to be from the army kron various. it's now been reported in at least 24 countries. the u. s. is now among the latest allen fisher has more from washington. this man arrived in the united states in california on the 22nd of november from south africa. that, of course, before the travel barns were put in place can feel terribly well tested on the.