oh, wash me the . ready news this is al jazeera, ah hello, hello rom, and you're watching the news online. my headquarters here in doha, coming up in the next 60 minutes. us president joe biden rushes of vladimir putin knowledge. you to hold a virtual summit shortly as tensions increase ukraine. the united kingdom introduces new travel restrictions to limit the spread of micron diary and will be live at gatwick airport and london. china condemns the u. s. s. decision to impose a diplomatic boy court of the beijing 2022 games as a violation of the elim pick spirit. and end of an era chancellor angle merkel

is about to say goodbye after 16 years running europe biggest economy. and i'm sorry if not with a board to later in the news, our end, the legend ben curry edges close to another record. we're coming to you live from our special sci fi era cup studio here in cat. tar. ah, welcome to the news. we start with a high stakes meeting between the leaders of the us and russia. soon, presidents joe biden and bladder mir putin are due to start virtual talk focused on russia's troop build up along its border with ukraine. now their affairs in washington, but basco may be planning to invade its neighbour. according to us, intelligence is preparing an attack as early as next year, and as a master $90000.00 troops near the border. russia denies any plans for an invasion

of ukraine, describes the accusations of hysteria. president putin wants to guarantee from the west that ukraine will not join nato and biden is expected to urge the escalation while warning of economic consequences. if an attack takes place now, he's been working with allies to prepare such measures. starting by, we have bennet smith who's in moscow, and charles struck that who's an eastern ukraine, professor cross over to our white house correspondent and kimberly, how getting, kimberly what's being said now in the lead up to this potential meeting? yeah, well that meeting is set to begin any moment if not already underway at the white house winter, send the u. s. president. we'll be meeting by video conference with vladimir putin, the russian leader. and that, that is expected to take place in the situation room, which will be a very secure facility. so there won't be any cameras that will be observing that although we're watching carefully to see what is released following the meeting,

a meeting which we expect to be rather lengthy because there is a lot to talk about. and the headline really there in the lead up is the issue of ukraine, specifically what the united states is going into in the message that it helps to convey to russia. now we know that the u. s. president spent much of monday and consultation with european allies. german chancellor angle of merkel the french liter emanuel macros well as the italian and british prime ministers. and the message that they intend to send is that they collectively believe that now is the time for diplomacy. that is the time to de escalate tensions to return to diplomacy through the channels of nato as well, where the u. s. will support. but really, the message is one that there is concern about the escalation, and there is a need to respect the territorial integrity as well as sovereignty of ukraine. now, to that, and there have been big questions here in the united states about just how far the

united states is willing to go in terms of its support. we know that it is supporting nato. should there be an invasion by russia into ukraine? the question becomes, will the military option in terms of us support and sending us troops b, a one of those options. the president is prepared to use the white house. not saying much about that at the moment, simply saying in the words of the pentagon spokesman john kirby, there's no need to come to blows over. this diplomacy is the preferred option. kimberly, but won't come to us. you might say, threaten russia waves, if this threat from russia over ukraine continues, now, it continues to be a real worry about those. yeah, there's no question that there already is a plan in place. should russia escalate things further? and that is the fear of the united states based on us intelligence, the united states, in our partnership with its european allies and tends to

a level very punishing sanctions on russia economically financial sanctions that would be designed to isolated from the global financial system. in other words, make it hard to convert rubles into dollars or other currencies. so this is the goal of the united states saying that if you do not as do as we ask and that is to respect ukraine, its sovereignty, its territorial integrity. this is the consequence that you will face. kimberly, how could i force a white house correspondent in washington dc. thank you, but sir cross over the water to bound at smith in moscow unbounded. we now know roughly what the united states wants. what does russia one's out of this meeting? russia, vladimir putin once respect, wants to be treated as an equal on the world stage by the states. and it doesn't want nato expanding further eastward by allowing ukraine to join when ukraine declared independence after the, not long after the collapse of the soviet union,

vladimir putin described that event as a great common calamity. martin that might not be many ukrainian to agree with that, but an indication of the hundreds of years of shared history between russia and ukraine and russia has been agitated by increased nato activity. it says on its doorstep, thoughts rush, us naval exercises in the black sea, us from the united states, providing weapons to ukraine. and, and excuse me, it's turkey providing drones, weaponized drones to ukraine. all of this is irritating russia. it once guarantees that the us will back off that nate, i will back off now, but it may pooty might know that biden can't promise him this con, giving these guarantees. but the russian president does now have this bargaining chip bass build up of troops on the border with ukraine and russia. and what the u . s. is reading into that build of a troops on the board burn. it is

a suggestion and a thought that russia is going to invade or attack ukraine in the coming weeks. all certainly within the 1st few months of 2022. what does russia risk if it actually does go in that direction? while the u. s. estimates the by the end of january, early 2022, they'll be 875000 russian troops along the border. now it's a huge risk for russia. unlike when it's annexed, crimea, in 2014, there was a largely ethnic russian population that was generally sort of welcomed invading ukraine with ethnic ukrainians. there is a very different prospect ukrainian, ukraine's army is certainly much smaller than russian army, but it a lot better work. but better equipped and trained than it was last time round on russia would be invading hostile territory. this time, when russia annexed crimea,

it was widely welcomed here in russia, there's no indication of letting me put in would receive such a boost to his popularity. if he invade ukraine proper this time around, and that would be huge. human cost on both sides. but it's with a cause. but at that in moscow. well, let's join charles, strengthen joined us now from ameria paul in ukraine. of course, charles, you know, while the us and russia talk about, you might say the elephant in the room, the elephant is ukraine. what's you, what, what's the feeling? what's the, the chit chat going on the moment in the country about the way they are. this political and military, poland at the moment in this debate. that's very much how certainly politicians, you get the feeling, the politicians feel exactly the same way. there is a sense of powerlessness, a man around the government circles is a feeling that sir. the ukrainian president has done all he can to try and

galvanized as much supporters as he can from his allies, from his partners in nato. not a day goes by where there isn't a statement made by a foreign leader saying, you know, we, we fully support ukraine's rights and to choose its own political and geopolitical future with respect to an eventual membership of may. so, of nato, you know, we, we demand that russia respects, ukraine's an territorial integrity and it's sovereignty. there is this sense now that sir, not more, not, not much more can be done all eyes on our own. this meeting between president biden and president putin because i think is pretty fair to say that certainly many people here. ready see the government as being utterly palace. the last we heard from president lensky was last night. and on the day that so ukraine celebrates it's a, it's, it's all me, it's military forces it,

sir. a military national day yesterday we saw as are in sky on the front lines speaking to troops there. and a he said that he had full confidence in those soldiers to, to defend ukraine. and in his worst, ultimately, when, well, we understand, we know what military analysts would tell you on that front at the moment. yes. it's all eyes to that meeting between the u. s. and the russian president to try and forge some way of getting in the russians to, to pull back to de escalate. charles is past few weeks. we've seen you and your report, sir, from the frontline of very close to the front line. the anxiety that people have there are you might say in a potential war zone and the problems they face in just their day to day lives in getting just the normal things done as you left. what was the atmosphere like in terms of the conversations you've been having with ordinary people,

audrey ukrainians on the ground? well, the facts, all that 14000 people have been killed in the 7 half years of this conflict, the u. n says that it expects up to 3000000 people on both sides of the front line to need humanitarian assistance next year. and there is a just a growing sense amongst the people that you speak to who live in that contact zone or close to it of complete hopelessness and increasing anger. bear in mind that the ukrainian president ugly won his campaign. one of the reasons why he won his presidential campaign in 2019 were promised that he was gonna end roches annexation of crimea and end the war in don vass while he's failed on both those accounts and arguably, seems more unable to do that in a week, a position than he did at the start of, of his term. and the people that we've spoken to him. we spoke to somebody today

who was, was angry, whose house had been described destroyed in the year in the fighting in 2015. and she didn't miss her word. she said that she wished, wished a similar fate on russian people. and another person, interestingly though, said that some russians and ukrainians slobs and that they should come together and, and, and enjoin as one unified block if you like. and another man we spoke, you said how important it was for the ukrainian government now to start talking to the separatists. something that the ukrainian government has always refused to do because in their eyes it would legitimize what they describe as a, a terror networks that are taking control of that area. ready but as i say, the underlying message that you get from people living in and around that area which isn't too far from here is a sense of hopelessness. and an anger am specifically anger at a government hair. ready that they say had,

has not acted on the promises that he had made. charles trying to put forth there in mary paul in ukraine. thank you. or at least 4 people have been killed by an explosion, a rock southern city of basra. the blast happened near a hospital. several other people were injured. not mood under wide has more than the governor over as basra city has called it a terrorist attack, despite the fact that he has not given any more details about the causes as or who behind whose behind the attack a. but he calls it a terrorist attack. now the bus or a girl province has just declared 3 days morning at for the victims of the attack. eye witnesses in the scene, say that or a man just pocket a motor bike or near to vehicles and left and then it ex, applauded in the 2 vehicles after the man left did the scene and the smoke

was coming out of the of the bite of the motorbike and their 2 vehicles as it has been circulated on social media. now, the governor of a bustler at pledge is to identify the perpetrators and to know that the yield causes behind at tax and also to punish the perpetrators or those who are behind it. the attack, it's interesting because bus are, are a lake other or southern provinces in iraq, a has been quite for a long time and they're up to his, their tax or dream would usually happen in the north, at, namely in the areas into disputed or areas between could this tan region and the, the, the by the dad there are territories. beside the coalition, yemen says its lot, several air strikes against military targets in the capital scenario. when it comes to reportedly intercepted and destroyed. missiles fired at the kingdom by who the

rebels earlier the, who these claim saudi oil facilities and the capital jet dollar hit. these control much of, nor than the men, including center which they seized in 2014. china is warning relations with the united states may be harmed after washington announced a diplomatic boycott of next year's winter olympic games in beijing. american government officials will not attend the event because of what they call human rights atrocities and genocide. katrina, you report from beijing, china is winter. olympic uniforms are ready and thousands for the vent stuff have been hired, but there will be few guests attending with the games. opens in beijing in february . the united states has announced a diplomatic boycott site and concerns about john as human rights record. only american athletes and not officials will be present. beijing says to move is an act of political manipulation may want over the u. s. approach to seriously violate the

principle of political neutrality of sports, established by the olympic trotter, runs counter to the limping motto of a more unity understands on opposite side of the vast number of athletes. and then on the spot into the asked over the wall, you know, then, washington says chinese treatin of muslim weakest and sion jung amounts to genocide, rights groups say, forced labor and sterilization, are rife, accusations repeatedly dismissed by the chinese government. your leader, bardon, king. john has effectively guarantee the rights of people of all ethnic groups. they are masters of their own affairs. other countries, including the united kingdom and canada, are also considering diplomatic boycotts. analysts say this will escalate tensions and do little to change china's behavior. it will have virtually no or do impact on, on their policies. and ginger ah, and or their policies and hong kong relations between the us and china,

have to magically shifted and chilled said, staging. hosted the summer olympics in 2008, which form the u. s. president george w bush, attended for china is just trying to figure out exactly what all of this star means . a visit. just political posturing ahead of the midterms. next year by a president who was unpopular or does is reflect though a long term us systematic and structural differences between the countries. ah, the u. s. has also applauded to women's tennis association for suspending all tournaments in china for concerns about the well being of chinese tennis star punctual i. who has not spoken publicly. after accusing a senior official of sexual assault, the chinese government says it will respond with firm counter measures, but it hasn't released details as to what those might be. in recent weeks, the 2 countries announced these concessions help the exchange of business people and industry leaders are now worried that those would be at risk. katrina,

you al jazeera aging. jewel vocal is a professor at pacific university in oregon and the author on the lympics. he says the us diplomatic boycott is not a surprise. the olympics have been political since they were founded in the 890 s by a plucky french aristocrat named baron peer to cooper time. and they have remained political ever since, after all, in 1936, hitler hosted the olympics in berlin to great political fact for him and his regime every single olympic as political elements to it. and so when somebody tells you that the olympics are not political, typically they tend to be milking the olympic couch with both hands, meaning they make their living off of the olympic games. and in fact, since the united states has making a diplomatic boycott of the beijing olympics just further proof. in fact, you might think that this could be the death knell of that fable that the olympics

are not political. they are definitely political through and through at least 38 people have been killed in a fire burn these main prison dozens more injured in the early morning. fire report that emergency services didn't arrive on the scene until 2 hours after it started for these. and terry minutes to says it was caused by an electrical short circuit. we'll put more had here on the news our including will tell you why we're hanging refugees are sitting facebook parent company for $150000000.00. and the u. s. falls to redeem a controversial trump era immigration policy that makes migrant way to mexico, while the cases are heard. and in full says carry, i just place the to another and be a record. the details of the bright me now the world health organization says imposing mandatory vaccine should be an

absolute last resource. the warning comes as more countries in europe debate, whether to adopt the strictest measure because of a surge of new infections driven by the on the chrome variance. now last month, austria announced it would make inoculations. compulsory from next year mandates at on vaccination are an absolute last resort and only applicable when all, all that feasible options to improve vaccination uptake have been exhausted. they have proven effective in some environments to increase vaccine uptick. but the effectiveness of mandate is very contact specific. mandates must be supported by appropriate policy considerations. a comprehensive implementation plan, including provisions for exemptions and a strong communication component for the population. new travel restrictions of coming to thank in the u. k. as a result of the needs aren't people traveling by it will need to show

a negative test result taken within 48 hours before that flight u. k. government is already banned, travel to and from several countries in southern africa. prime minister barak johnson has told his cabinet, the armoire con, variance appears to be more transmissible on the delta one. let's get more from andrew simmons who's at london's gatwick airport and andrew, him and how these new restrictions now being viewed in the u. k. well the restrictions on travel have been met with a sort of mood of, of reluctant acceptance by many to days within 2 days, a compulsory covey test to come into the country and also a come covered test within 2 days of leaving the country. and so um this is such an acceptance as i say nigeria, a west african state has been added that to the red list of on the travel. bam.

which already includes 10 other states there in the southern africa that was lot of controversy about nigeria having this restriction placed upon it. but really the issue that's on people's minds more than anything else is the level of the restrictions in the u. k. a prime minister barak johnson said at tuesday, his cabinet meeting early indications are that amik crohn variance is more transmissible than the delta very of now, but not be may not be massively new. but the real concerns are whether this or micron variant will cause some evasion. on immunity, and also whether or not it's more dangerous, whether it will make people even more sick of them. they would be anyway with cove at 19. and the infection rate is of great concern. our latest estimate suggests that it's doubling every 3 days. look around on the rest of the restrictions and they're very light indeed. and the deputy prime minister dominic

rob has said that he has no intention. the government has no intention of going for what was called plan b, which again, is not that strident in its restrictions. and he saying, look, you know, more or less, it will be ok for christmas. not a lot of people trust him on that. well, that's the sort of british perspective, but what about the rest of europe? because, you know, they're all banging their heads against a brick wall as to what to do next. yes my certainly am, but they're coming up with all a very the means of, of, of tracking down on, on this ferrying to hoping. and what we're seeing is a travel bands not being considered further from bands being considered and also a range of other measures. but mainly ways of affecting the lives of the unvaccinated. and that seems to be getting more and more on the agenda more so than any lockdown excluding austria, for example, austria now are coming to an end with its full lockdown. it started in mid november

. it will end on some day, but it will continue for the unvaccinated. what across the board of the restricted, they can't go to work. the cancer effectively go to major stores apart from essential shopping the can't really leave the homes. and then furthermore, in february we'll see mandatory vaccinations for these people. also germany considering taking the same action. and so up warning you heard from the world health organization about using this sort of tactic as a last resort. that certainly wouldn't seem to be a last resort, perhaps when you consider a full lockdown on the economic effects of these lock downs instead of the economic in economic downsides. they're looking perhaps it and evasion an invasion on people's limits is a by imposing mandatory vaccination. we'll come back to him show for another update

to through the day and resume his efforts at gap capital. thank you. south africa's president has stepped up, his face criticism of the way countries have reached her. the new on the comp erected pardon me, to the new amok on variant surround, oppose or made the remarks during a peace and security for him. in senegal, saying western governments have also failed to deliver coven 19 vaccines that they have promised to africa. from the capital decor. nicholas hack reports. the fight against the new army kron variant in senegal starts here, had a health center in downtown to car, where doses of the coven 19 vaccines are available, actually with the can. the, it's not because we have a vaccine that we are immune. we need to keep protective measures and protect those around us. it's not over at a 2 day piece, insecurity form held into court on monday, south africa as president, sirower posts are accused rich countries of creating health apartheid. i have

personally really been disappointed in the approach that the rich countries have taken on the issue of vaccines. firstly, they hoarded vaccines. they ordered more vaccines than their populations required. and when we wanted vaccines, they just kept, you know, giving us the crumbs from their table. and the greed that they demonstrated as something that is quite, quite disappointing. indeed, particularly when they say they are our partners. the pandemic overshadowed the 7th piece insecurity form held here which welcomed heads of state intelligence officers and military chiefs. usually discussions and the forum revolves around greater military cooperation between western nations and african countries. but with western countries breaking their promise to supply vaccines and their unwillingness

to wave patterns to allow people here to make their own trust is eroding. with some nation, looking at new partners for him, revolves around greater military cooperation between western nations in african countries. but with western countries breaking their promise to supply vaccines and their unwillingness to wave patterns to allow people here to make their own trust is eroding. with some nation looking at new partnerships, to help the fight against cove it in africa, china and out it's sending 1000000000 doses of vaccines on the fight against arm groups. in this a hell region. new year's president admitted that al qaeda affiliates are in some places, better equipped than the security forces of some countries in west africa following increased attacks. molly, seeking help from the russian mercenaries working for wagner, the private military company. but us way conflict miley,

we have decided to go more and more for diversification of our partnerships. we can work with china, we can, we'll give her russia also at the forum, delegates from western nations reiterated their good will and intentions. but countries such as south african senegal, say that's not good. ah and away we go with your weather update for the middle east. normally we say it's quiet, but that's not the case now. hello everyone. good to see. we've got this storm system slamming in to the labatte. it's going to play a lebanon in palestine. we'll talk more about that coming up. but elsewhere, fine and dry can ah, but a palestinian social and political campaigner in iceland. she became the 1st woman

here to speak about human rights, or in the press at american dutch business woman who's built a multi 1000000 dollar business, but helps disadvantage young people in the netherlands. nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself all to see the world meet. 2 are of women who become successful away from home. arabs abroad, the activist of the old trooper on all jersey. 08. unless any cattle will. hi, ms. lisa. well come in preparation. the country is staging a major testament.