this former warlord liberia has become the frontline of a drug war. it cannot afford to lose. he says it's a battle he will fight out of responsibility and killed for his past crimes. and for his country. ah, ah, at least 13 people have been killed and dozens injured. as a volcano erupts in indonesia is east java province. ah, i'm sammy's a dan. this is al jazeera, alive from dell, also coming up, began via awaits for the results of the election seen as an important test for its democracy. nearly 2000 uganda and soldiers cross into the democratic republic of congo to battle an armed brute.

far from home, an influx of cuban migrants, some making their way to greece to find a better life. ah, evacuations have been suspended around indonesia as mount semo because of clouds of hot ash raining from the erupt. thing, volcano, who so far, 13 people have been killed and dozens injured. it happened in the luma. jang in the nation's most densely populated island of java. thousands of people have fled villages as lava mixed with rain submerged houses have been moved to evacuation centers. summary is entities just highest volcano erupted in january. i was scared in running a panic because disruption was much bigger interruption that occurred last year

that bang bang, harding, warranty is a public policy unless he says it's unclear how warnings of interruption could have been missed. meryl mountain is located in one of the most eventually populated area. it's been it's always closely monitored by our local knowledge office. and they know that every time we have big rainy season, some sort of what day, sometime they go to country or option heflin. so they should have been able to get a warning for people that from the interview given to me as to why, but they seem to be caught by sort of bryce. so this is still a question that has to be answered. why they are quite by to bryce what went wrong if somebody sleeping on the job or our way of communicating they get it is not so be here or maybe when,

because some people by area they shouldn't be. because if you know student, why is one of the most densely populated island in the world, the land is got to should be and people are always trying to get a new rank. it can, you can indeed an official say 13 civilians have been mistaken be killed during a military operation. it happened in the northeast in state of nagger land. the army is reported to have shopped at the trunk, carrying thousands of people. troops then lay to 5 as a crowd that gathered to protest against the truck attack. one soldier was also killed. india's home minister meet shar, as tweets is about the shooting, saying he's anguished and expressing his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. he says they'll be a thorough investigation by the state government election results in the gambia expected to start coming in later on. sunday votes is used

a unique system for casting that ballots in an election seen as a test for its democracy. turn out was high as vote is decided whether president adama barrow deserves another term. al jazeera estimated race reports from the capital banjo. president adam a bottle arrives to cast his vote aware that in this title he contested election, there could be surprises by the president and his supporters, accounting only divided opposition to achieve victory. or i am john present to support this one. everybody knows not even your to do as you remember, we're going to be doing the early barrel is challenged by the leading architects of the coalition. but ended the victory of ice per desa yaya 5 years ago. they also voted and i confident of women. when i went to say that i have gotten my work and how did in there does to god, what is it to him?

this election is significant in many aspects, from the record number of candidates to the nearly a 1000000 people who register to vote. solomon boss as the difference between the 2016 election and this one is clear, the ceiling of shia was there. but this one there is no feeling of fear. for my own honest that from my own observation and doesn't mean anything for you as a voter. yeah, it means something. yes, because then someone, if she at it got into settings, which is not in line with his own desire for 1st time for to howard demi. it's a dream come true. it's been nice wooden pretty since then. because since i was adela, i wanted to hold fancy to be willing to feel like i said $14140.00. as in all previous elections since 947, a unique system is used traditional models along with

a drum and bell inside. this could be the last time the mobiles system of voting. if you understand the gambia or the list of candidates going, it's becoming increasingly expensive to produce ballot boxes for each candidate. and in all of the countries, 1540 the election commission once the paper ballots in the next vote. because the system that a software country for more than half a century is no longer a sustainable turn out across the country was impressive. and the process like and the peaceful people to india and greater freedom the, you know, the individual elections as a means to piece because that was very got a piece of in, but also love the result of the election is expected within 24 hours of poles closing on saturday night, ahmed wreath al jazeera by june, the gambia sedans military chief says the army will leave politics after election

schedule for 2023, general abdel for albert han offered the assurance. during one of several interviews he gave of international news agencies on saturday. for han led the military takeover an october before a deal was struck last month to reinstate the prime minister. who, when a government is elected, the armed forces and all organized security groups, i believe, will have no participation in political matters. this is what we agreed upon and this is the army natural situation for the armed forces to carry out its duties because there will be a government elected by the sudanese people that expresses their will and hope was he's he of his prime minister is calling on the young people fighting for the rebels from t gray to surrender, and not taking part in what he calls a war without our goal. fighting is said to be limited to areas between the towns of buffy and dessie in the northeast. the government says its banking progress and has captured more towns from the rebels. state media are reporting rebels now lost

all their positions inside the far region. but their leader describes the claims as propaganda. of valet ivy in war there is progress and regression. this is the nature of war. there are sites that we have seized, and others that we've evacuated. and within the framework of the strategy that we set, we withdrew from some positions and we deployed. this is not because of military pressures. changing these positions was our decision. nearly 2000 uganda and soldiers of crossed into the democratic republic of the congo to fight alongside troops. there is fond of a joint operation against an armed group. the allied democratic forces has been blamed for attacks and d, r. c in uganda. got tell her sorry, anne has the latest on the military action. soldiers from 2 countries on the hunt for one common enemy. troops from uganda have joined their counterparts and

democratic republic of congo, hoping that together they'll defeat rebels from the allied democratic forces or 80 s their targets include the darcy's renewal re mountains where the armed group established itself more than 25 years ago. okay, so the level of our ugandan allies carried out an air strike across our border earlier this week. now together with our dear c, troops were on the move on a mission to push out the rebels in the region. it's an unusual collaboration between uganda and the d r c, but both governments say the adf poses a threat. they can't afford to ignore. the armed group is accused of having links to isolate in killing hundreds of people, village rates, and northeastern democratic republic of congo noble and uganda, blended for suicide bombings last month. and it's capital kampala law. we're very happy, both governments are working together. we've suffered and cried because of all the

security and killings. we support it and encouraged both armies. villages like these often bear the brunt of the violence. entire communities have been displaced and regional leaders here, the fighting can spill over to other neighboring countries. we are either the killers and we already did this, but he's been yada ugandan. troob say they're ready to stay in the d r. c until the rebels are pushed out. but critics gear, the presence of foreign troops could lead to more on rest and perhaps to the rise of other armed roofs. cartier laquissa, william, i'll de 0. the number of new daily cove at 19 cases in south africa as daily quadrupled in just 4 days. more than 16000 infections were recorded on saturday. on the score and concerns about the rapid spread of the new. i'm a con variant from johannesburg. for me, the miller explains how the government is responding by encouraging more people to

get vaccinated. this is one of a few 100 vaccination centers in the housing province in south africa. and how ting has been hardest hit by the rise in coven 19 infections. between 70 and 80 percent of new infections across of africa in this province alone. and that is why authorities are saying that people need to get out and get vaccinated. there has been some level of vaccine hesitancy, about 42 percent of people who are eligible for a vaccine have actually taken that up. but that number dropped to about 36 percent for people who have taken up 2 doses, who are fully vaccinated. the government has set up a number of drives, door to door awareness campaigns, trying to create awareness around why the vaccine is important, especially because so little is known around the army kron variance. and the greatest concern there is just how easily it spreads. and that is being reflected

in the spike in numbers that south africa is experiencing. one area of concern, while hospitalizations of people has remained relatively low, a number of young children under the age of 5 are having to be admitted to hospital . now becoming ill after contracting cove at 19 this recruiting the number of students $12.00 to $17.00 since it was open to to that age group a month or so ago that has come in now for, for the vaccinations coming in with the parents coming in as families so there has been that we have them an optical number infected the kids at the surrounding schools over year. so i think parents are exercising portia a week ago this vaccination center had about 50 or 60 people coming through every day. and now that number has doubled, so that is encouraging for people trying to make sure that south africans are getting vaccinated. but we've also been to several vaccination centers in this province. some entirely empty, some with people trickling through and others more busy. so there's still an issue

around vaccine hesitancy, but certainly a significant proportion of the sub african population has been spooked by this new ami con variant. and more people are coming out to get a job. so i had an al jazeera rusher is accused of weapon ising, its energy resources to put more pressure on ukraine. plus i'm robot bride in western afghanistan where they just finished harvesting the world's most expensive spies in a country. that right now is among the world's most economically im, harold. ah, ah, look forward to brighter sky's the weather sponsored boy cut on airways. hello there. we've got weather warnings out for more wintry weather across europe over the next few days. and that's thanks to these bands of cloud that are moving

across, linked to low pressure, bringing rain snow and sleep to many areas. and all that heavy rain moves away from greece into turkey. we will see some sunshine in athens on sunday, but there's a wintery mix blowing in behind that with plenty of snow on the outs. and we've got another area of low pressure bringing some really wet and windy weather, working its way into eisen so heavy rain and snow. here by the time we get to monday, it'll be britain an island that sees those conditions. we have warnings out in scotland and northern england for that heavy snow and rain. it is going to turn more on settled and windy as we go into the week. now for much of scandinavia, feeling very cold. indeed, temperatures here well below the average in places like sweden, finn and the baltic states and for much of eastern europe. but the south doesn't escape. we've got some very strong winds. gonna blow into northern areas of spain, bringing some heavy snow to the mountains, here by the time we get into sunday, it will of ease but it's more wet weather on the way, but it gets really wouldn't windy once again,

across the mediterranean with heavy rain to italy and a winter we mix blowing across the balkans. that's your update. oh, the weather sponsored by casara always talk to al jazeera. we always ask how would you describe taliban relationship with the us? we listen copies. one kid is not told for coffee. 19 has been terrible demonstration of the failure of human soley that we meet with global news makers and talk about the stories that matter on al jazeera, the philippines is fighting to restore fight in back vein. i put the quote equally tonight and the wrong one. 0, one east investigates on al jazeera. ah, the me

welcome back. you're watching. i'll just reminded of our top stories. the south evacuations have been suspended around in these years. mount some a roo, because of cloud. the whole hash raining from the erupt in volcano. so fall 13 people have been killed and dozens injured, thousands of flight their villages off the lava, mixed with rain submerged houses, boat counting on the way in the gambia, off the saturdays presidential election has been a high turn out in the poll, seen as a test of stability and democratic progress, indian official say 13 civilians have mistakenly been killed during the military operation in the northeast in the state of new england. the army is reported to have shot at the truck carrying thousands of people and later find that the crowd. 5 people have been killed in me and mas largest city off the security forces, ram the vehicle into a group of protest of thousands more were injured during an anti qu,

demonstration in the an gong. the flash mall riley was targeted just minutes after it began, and to government rallies have been taking place across me and ma, since the military take over in february a days has been set for us. president joe biden and russian president vladimir putin. the whole talk soft to the recent tensions in east in ukraine. the lead is due to speak on a video call on tuesday of thousands of russian troops gather near ukraine's border . us and ukrainian official say intelligence suggest an invasion or attack is possible in the coming weeks. russia has stopped exporting coal to ukraine, saying it needs to cover high demand at home. ukraine depends on russian call to keep its lights on and as long as q moscow of using energy as a weapon. child stratford reports from tourette's in east in ukraine. a coal mine

close to the front line in easton ukraine. mines such as this one, have helped fuel industry and the don bass region and across what was the soviet union for over a century. but ukraine remains dependent on russia to meet its energy needs, especially coal, which is vital for fueling ukrainian pow stations. in 2014 pro russia, separatists seized control of the majority of the mines. further depleting, ukraine's access to call decades of neglect means much of the mines infrastructure is close to collapse the bottle. do you know if is your thought, the equipment we have is from 958, lack of investment and government? negligence is one of the reasons why we face a shortage that things could be difficult this winter. another problem is that russia caught ukraine's coal supply last month. russia has recently stopped exporting coal to ukraine,

saying that there's just too much domestic internal demand for the natural resource . some analysts are describing this is nothing short of blackmail. an effort by russia to weapon eyes, it's vast, natural resources as a means of putting pressure on ukraine. and it's not just cold that russia is using to try and control your grain. these a gas pipelines similar to those that transport russian gas across ukraine to europe. europe relies on russia for around 35 percent of its energy needs. and ukraine gets paid transit fees, which were around 2000000000 dollars last year. but those days on nearly over the non stream to pipeline, which is expected to be opperation next year, bypasses ukraine. instead transporting gas from russia to germany under the baltic sea. russia trying to lead to divide europe for russia multiple better.

energy relations was different states separately rather than with then go the year from graham perspective. this means that russia will. ready have has free to destabilize d should in. ready queen more actively germany has warned russia not to use its gas exports as a weapon, but has been criticized by other european states and ukraine for exposing here to more economic pressure for moscow. so analysts say, russia's aim of trying to keep ukraine in expire of influence is impossible. it is simply not possible to have that sort of control away our neighbors. we've all with investing huge resources, military as well as economy. because in the end, as i seized on bracey, i think it moscow and age to modify its aids because they're simply natalie.

winter is just beginning. yes is so worried about the potential electricity blackouts that it's been forced to start importing coal from as far away as the us and colombia. so analysts say economic, an energy pressure from russia will continue. because the more ukraine talks about future nato and e u. membership of all moscow sees red. just rather al jazeera toreto, eastern ukraine. asylum seekers from cuba are joining others from africa and asia, trying to enter the e u through greece. but they're shot out of established procedures and processes, leaving them desperate for food and shelter. john thoughtless reports from athens. one spends his days on his phone, contacting other asylum seekers from his native cuba, a sally thermography, and i thought of making a list to see how many cubans there are and give this to which our organization we could there are lawyers, doctors, civil engineers close on we're not brigands,

we want to the country though, all embrace us to see that we can offer things to society. we're not here to extract wealth and go home. let's be part of society and contribute glance as he became aware of the plight of other cubans when he was arrested while trying to catch a plane to italy. the walls of his cell were covered in graffiti opposing the communist regime and havana. cubans have been arriving in greece since food shortages led to unrest and a violent crack down in havana last july. the u. s. border is close to them, so they fly to russia visa, free than to serbia and walk to greece. many pay about $9.00 a night for a bed and a flat. but with their money running out, they sometimes find themselves on the street horns. friend carlos managed to find a week of work in construction at the weather are hm. i have 11 euros on me. that's all that's left from the week i worked. there are 9 children, one and i pulled our money and bought milk and other groceries for them. we are

part of a group where everyone helps each other than to night. i don't know where i will stay. i will make some calls. if i can't find a place, i'll make a plan. but there are others who are worse off. carlos, spend all the money he brought from cuba, buying several tickets to fly from greece to germany or spain. police foiled all his attempts to get their cubans could apply for asylum that would entitle them to run subsidy and monthly cash allowance. but they would have to have registered at a reception center like those found on the easter g and islands, the usual and free route for refugees. there was no such center on the north macedonian border where they entered greece. so their only option now is to apply online. even that is difficult, says basil is papa hopeless who runs a legal aid charity for refugees? no, not even simply the, not even the spanish interpreters because this is a new ignore the refugee waverly too late. now what is going gone is that the

authorities do not register them as, as alan, she tears and the forced them realty to leave either back to their own country, to coma or to find their own way. let's say elsewhere. these refugees have another option. they can formally apply for asylum before being deported, but then they'd risk being imprisoned back home. we asked carlos how he felt about that, but i feel i thought brussel, i'd rather spend my life in jail here. dead return to cuba. jumps are opal us al jazeera athens farmers in western afghanistan had just finished harvesting flowers that produce saffron. it's the world's most expensive spice, and the crop offers hope in a country teetering on the brink of economic disaster. brought mcbride reports from heaven province in the fields of hair at the end of the saffron harvesting, is often marked by children from nearby villages coming to pick what's left for

pocket money. for there is real value in these small purple flowers of the crocus family that yield the world's most expensive spice. since its introduction from neighboring iran, saffron cultivation has boomed in this province in recent years, and its value to afghanistan given its current economic plight, has never been more important. for saffron produces the turmoil of the taliban takeover has caused disruption for the shipping and banking services. they need for exports. but they say at least there isn't the same corruption they faced under the old government method can make on on problems of the banking system. are a big issue for businesses. but i think we face list bureaucratic interference. and in the long term, i'm optimistic about the future. extracting the precious filaments from the flowers, processing the individual threads to remove impurities,

then sorting them into different grades requires painstaking attention. it's a role traditionally carried out by women. while men do the work in the fields, despite concerns, the taliban might try to stop women from working produce as we spoke to say there's been no problem so far. and that's good for the wider social significance of this spice, or in the last couple of decades, it's been promoted as an alternative to growing poppies for the opium trade. a trend helped by saffron's rising international price. and of course, there would be some interest from the other probably. anyway, they see that the price is really high. of course, there is a debt bring also the honda, the contribution of the flooring, the thought from as a lucrative alternative to puppy production. saffron cultivation was encouraged

across afghan is done by the previous administration. it stands as one of its more successful legacies. but the vast majority of the country, saffron and the best quality spice still originates from the fields of had us. it's been recognized by international awards as among the best in the world and stuff like that. and i export to more than 27 countries. and i know that suffering can change the economic face of i've gone this time and i know the soil and other provinces will also produce a front placing such trust in the powers of one tiny flower may be hoping for too much. but this is a country in need of any little help right now. rob mcbride, al jazeera herat afghanistan, a giant christmas tree has been lit up in the occupied westbank city of bethlehem, where christians believe jesus was born. the faithful gathered outside the church of the nativity, hoping cove it $900.00 doesn't ruin another holiday season. an ancient statue which

disappears from nepal, almost. busy 40 years ago is finally returned home f. b i. agents were called in when the religious icon on display in the museum in the u. s. was reported to this property. our reporter, i'm jasa limbo, joined napoleon, worshippers as they welcome the return of their long lost treasure. the peoples of political button waited a long time for this to catch a glimpse of their long lost and much loved. idle. the 12th century sat you of luxury with worshipped with centuries before it disappeared from the town in 1984. we were sad when the day she worship disappeared. what happy to get it back. later, it is back where it belonged. the statue was briefly seen at sotheby's auction house new york in the early nineties before vanishing again. it then reappeared at the dallas museum of art and texas artist and researcher joined in davis,

spotted it in an online image 36 years ago. since then. she's been working with net poly heritage activists and f b i. agents to ensure it's returned to me. it feels like a bit of a bit of justice in the world and also just to, oh, wonderful happiness. to see that she returned and actually back in worship again in the original tempo. and it's, it's the dream. it's a dream come true for many of us custodians conducted religious rights before reinstating the statue in its shrine. wherein part about square a unesco was heritage sites. in the past, dozens of cut monday valleys, venerated deities have disappeared from here into private and museum collections abroad. what may be objects of art for many have beef, cultural and spiritual significance for generations of napoleon, the 1918 and 19 for the plunder of bronze de teeth and stone sculpture from cats, monday valley region, 2 important books, the gods and leaving the country and stolen images of the pond have painstakingly

documented more than 200 missing artifacts. it will save for them about the steps and trafficking in a cultural heritage here, which is you have to say there is increasing pressure on lift and collectors and museums to return the treasure. oh it is that it when they see how we worship and take care of our deities, i'm sure people will be happy to return them when they realize what they have stolen, they must be guilty while only a small percentage of nepal stolen items have found their way home activists. welcome to be home coming at the start of a positive trend. remy at the limbo edges. eda gutmann du. ah, let's take you through some of the headlines here. now just here. now evacuations have been suspended around entities is mount summary because of clouds of hot ash of raining.