biggest ever sporting event next year and for the cats are national, seems they get used to playing in front of expected home crowds that we hoping to convince both the fans and themselves that they really are ready to take on the world. ah. ready say that because president test positive for cove is 19 after delivering a eulogy at a memorial for f. w to clerk. ah, i'm how am i he did this is al jazeera, lying from doe hobb, also coming up. i'm afraid we're now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant. the u. k. prime minister raises the corona virus alert level as he faced his bitter criticism about

a staff christmas party during last year's lockdown. the u. s. president declares a major disaster in the state of kentucky. after more than 30 tornadoes, devastated several regions. and thinking outside the box, palestinians living in the occupied west bank turn to solar power to improve access to electricity. ah, a day after delivering the you and the jew for former presidents have w to clerk, south africa's currents presidents, a serial rama poser, test positive for corporate 19. his office released a statement saying he felt unwell after the state memorial service in cape town on sunday. he's being treated for mild symptoms from a poser has been vaccinated against the corona virus. for mr. miller has more form, johannesburg is being monitored by military doctors. they say that he's doing well

then while he's in the lation, his duties will be performed by the deputy president, the prison presidency rather, hasn't expressed any deep concern around him testing positive. but this does come just after the eulogy that he gave at the memorial for the former president f, w, the clerks that he was around people and also off the back of a west african to a we visited several countries. so those who've been around the president have been told to isolate and they've been tested, but they've also use this opportunity to remind south africans to get vaccinated, saying that the president is just as vulnerable as everybody else. and this is your chance to get out and get vaccinated because that's what's going to keep you safe. while experts are saying it's likely that army crow infections will overtake the delta variant. at some point, we're looking at about a 15000 average daily cases in the last 7 days. specifically, almost

a 50 percent positivity rate. and what that means is that 30 percent of people who go out and get tested for cova 19 have a positive result. so excludes continue to say that they are alarmed by the rate at which the variant is grading, but they've also continued to say that they are observing mild cases of infection. they do one more time to come out with further information around just how severe illness might be, but we are hearing more and more fun. these authorities that there it is increasingly a case of mild infections you could, government has raised its corona virus threat level to, for just shorts. of the highest level. 5 officials of warning, the spread of the only con, variances pushing the u. k. back into risky territory. the threat level won't immediately affect assisting rules and regulations,

but to move to level 5 would bring more restrictions and will be triggers if the health system becomes overwhelmed by minister poorest johnson has urged people to get a 3rd vaccine shots. no one should be in any doubt. there is a tidal wave of omicron coming and i'm afraid it is now clear that 2 doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need. but the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a 3rd dose a booster dose. we can all bring our level of protection back up. a fortnight ago, i said we would offer every eligible adult a booster by the end of january to day. in light of this on the con emergency, i'm bringing that target forward. by a whole month. everyone eligible, aged 18 and over in england, will have

a chance to get their booster before the new year. how brennan is in london for a government push for more vaccinations is underway. and now bar johnson wants a 1000000 a day at a time when we're running up to christmas, as he says, the tidal wave of on the cross on the way ro, ready fill in the 4th wave of the delta variance. and so as we enter this holiday period here in the u. k, it is going to be an enormous challenge to meet the expectations and ambitions of the prime minister. that said, the chess going to try and i'm standing outside guys, hospital where people have been here since 7 o'clock this morning. i'm going to quickly step out the way so which of the common man can look around. people are literally queueing out of the gates of this hospital in order to wait for that boost the japs as well as a couple of 100 people at least here. there is another tent on the opposite side of

this building on the, on the fall side of this building, where there are more boost the jobs being administered. in fact, that's where i got my boost a job. earlier on this month. people here i can tell you from experience are going to be waiting at least an hour, but they are willing to do so because of the urgency of the situation. and as the prime minister said in that address he gave on sunday night, even if on the wrong doesn't lead to as many deadly outcomes as the delta vary. and the fact is that it's predicted on the some modeling to be the cause twice, the number of hospitalizations as under the peak of the delta variance. and that is what they are very worried about the overwhelming of the chassis hospitals. he's really in the state of queensland is opening its borders to domestic travelers that are fully vaccinated. it's been closed for 5 months for the state pushed for locals to get to jobs. the housing has this reports home for the holidays. these lucky travelers were able to return to the seat of queensland and australia after

being locked out because of the pandemic. we haven't been on a plane for a month. but just coming back with the father wolf, warmer bridge. in july, queensland clamped down on travel, shutting its borders as the delta variant of coven 19 made its way through the country. the local government set a goal of getting 80 percent of its population age, 16 and above vaccinated before borders would open again. that target was reached just in time for some families to be reunited for christmas. and hi, mr. allison, who is with my son and daughter. know you had been england for 5 years and i was planning to get married in 2020, and grace. we were all going, but of course we couldn't do that. so they got married in that september this year, and we're now well going home after 5 years. so we thought you saw it,

but not every one is so lucky. international travel into the state and country still requires 2 weeks of quarantine. officials say that will change once the vaccination rate goes up to 90 percent. it's been over a month since i saw my family, and luckily i can get back for christmas, but my brother is still overseas and can't get back into queensland. there have been protests across australia against the push for everyone to get vaccinated. but for those that have these hugs and kisses try to make up for time spent apart. leah harding al jazeera crowds in sudan are protesting against the deal, the prime minister signed with the military last month. the political agreement saw abdullah handout queens status as prime minister weeks after the military had detained him and seized power. of that deal was rejected by sedans, largest opposition, coalition protest. just say they don't want any compromises with the military. if morgan is in khartoum and joins us now, hebert,

it's not the 1st time people been protesting against the deal signed in november. what do they hoping to achieve? well the 1st thing they're hoping to achieve, hannah is that the military would notice that there are a lot of people not just in the capitol hill but around the country that are rejecting their rule. so we're seeing people here gathering to boys the opposition to the deal that was fine between our prime minister. hm. dog and the army following the military takeover that happened in october 25th. many of them saying that they want to show the army that there's a lot of people around the country who are objecting to the fact that the military is present in the political scene. they're also trying to send a message to the international community. that's the number that following the deal, the united nations secretary general said that the sudanese people should stand behind prime minister handled and supports a deal that was signed on november 21st. for many of them. they regard that as if it's way out and that the international committee is ignoring the fact that so many

people around the country are objecting to the presence of the military incidents political affairs. and ever, we have seen a process turn violence and people getting injured previously. what are the expectations for this protest? what we've seen, heavy security presence deployed on the road leading to the presidential palace. that's because that's the destination of the process this year. they're hoping to make their way to the presidential palace. now they are concerns of bill violence because already what you 4 people have been killed since the protest against the military people over on up to protect it for more than 100 people have been injured . ask for the medical group to dance central come with these doctors. so the up on the wireless because of the heavy security presence. but despite the fact that so many people have died despite the fact that hundreds have been injured. those protested that they determined to boys. there was a student deal to the president of the military incidents. politics. okay. had been

woken their life for us from car team hippa for now. thank you. the number of people killed in kentucky after dozens of tornadoes hit the region is likely to pass. 100 president joe biden has declared a major disaster and promised aid for 6 states. kentucky is the hardest heads region i did. your castro is there and has the latest from the tone of mayfield's. this is what the mayfield candle factory looked like before the storm. this is what it looks like now. i saw on site a back back that was left behind and a pair of shoes. and it represents that the tragedy that this tornado has reaped on this area of kentucky, we learned of a telephone that was recovered. a cell phone that recorded 27. miss messages. we've lost father's mother's brothers, sisters,

sons, daughters and others, teens from department of homeland security and the federal emergency management agency or fema are now on the scene. but the likelihood of finding more survivors diminishes by the hour fridays. tornado destroyed everything. it touched in mayfield. this used to be the historic town center. now it is leveled that was once a doctors office back there churches now nothing but rubble. this trailer was picked up in the sky and dropped here like a toy and people's personal belongings from their homes. their photographs of their family members, now litter the streets. david hargrove digs through what remains of his law. office volunteers are helping him recover client files. he didn't expect to also find this . i've had this desk for since my daughter's been born in, you know, all things they draw for you and i had it under a glass and that's the i

found most of them. there's still no power or running water, but the recovery work is in full swing. 10000 people call this town home. i can't even tell what's what right now cuz saw powered up. it's like a like a war zone that happened here. and though it's unreal. well, worth kind. describe what i feel right now of my home town. the loss of life here is the greatest shock, knowing some of the ruin homes belong to the factory workers who will never return . parts are heavy. as the clean up continues. heidi joe castro, al jazeera mayfield, kentucky still ahead on al jazeera, spain's wetlands are under threats, made worse by local farmers, stopping into water supplies illegally to keep their livelihoods going. i'm not totally. bennett's becomes the 1st israeli prime minister to make official visits

to the united arab emirates. ah ah, look forward to brighter skies the weather sponsored by cattle airways. hello there. the weather's turned much milder and quieter for much of east asia, in particular from mainland china. we've got high pressure in charge once again, and we are seeing the temperature climb in beijing and shanghai well above the average with lots of sunshine around it is going to get cooler towards the end of the week. and it's gonna cool down slightly for the korean peninsula as that wet weather. it works its way further south, but for now on wednesday in so was in the temperature at 10 degrees. the wet and windy weather however, continues to plague northern areas of japan was seen snow flurries in hawkeye dough . but for tokyo, it's wet on tuesday dry. on wednesday we will see the temperature recover here. now

as we move across to south asia, it's a more settled picture not to fine and dry weather for much pakistan for india stretching across as well in so bungler dash. it's for the south with seen some showers pull into southern areas. we'll see rain in can i on thursday, but by the time we get to wednesday, it dries up, we're going to see shop showers in sri lanka, putting a cross into the mouths because we can further north across that western coast of india within a lot of warmth here, the temperature in mum by sitting near the mid thirties. lots of sunshine for new delhi that to weather update. oh, the weather sponsored by casara ways. do you want a bank that puts the expat back into expertise? need bank business banking strikes to give you a team of specialists who provide expert advice and relevant solutions for your business to guide your group during these unprecedented times. so in an ever

changing business world, do you want to bank that takes your money or a bank that takes your money seriously. search need bank bigger picture business banking. ah, ah ah, this is al jazeera, quick reminder, all the top stories, the sar south africa's presidency rom, of jose has tested positive for corporate 19 is being treated for mild symptoms from a puerto has been vaccinated against the virus crowds and see don are protesting against the deal, the prime minister signed with the military last month, electrical agreement saw della handled reinstated by minister weeks after the

military had detained him and sees power. and the u. s. president has declared an emergency in kentucky after tornadoes, devastating the states. this means more funding and ease for a region more than 60 people have been killed. tornadoes in the u. s. during december are extremely rare, though not unheard of. over all about 1000 are recorded annually, mostly in central u. s. states along an area called tornado alley, the peak months or may and june when dry, cold air from canada moved south. and it's warm and humid air coming north from the gulf of mexico. in winter, there is normally isn't enough warm and humid air for teenagers to thrive, but this time spring like temperatures fed the storms. the current lanier weather pattern in the pacific ocean is responsible for some of this, but scientists expect warmer winters to become more common as the planet hits and a higher temperatures have already blamed for shifting tornado alley. east.

potentially putting more people in the path. all that were servers were william gallus is a professor of meteorology and i was state university uses the path of destruction left by the tornadoes to be the longest ever. recorded tornadoes form on any day where you have strong wind shear, which means the winds are changing. their speed and direction as you go up in the atmosphere. so on friday night we had very strong values of wind shear in the atmosphere, which is pretty typical in winter. but the other ingredient we need is instability, or a lot of energy that is supplied by having warm and humid conditions near the ground that is often lacking in the winter. but as you heard in this event, there is spring like warped and humidity presence in this region to those 2 ingredients come together and allow for thunderstorms to begin to rotate. and the strong upward motion in the thunderstorm can concentrate the rotation to make it

a spin very fast helping to form for nato's. we've gone 8 years in the united states since we've had an f 5 tornado, which should be the maximum strength tornado. they have not yet rated this very long track tornado in kentucky. but there seems to be some evidence that may be as intense as an f 5. and in addition, it is very rare to have the tornado stay on the ground. this long. if confirmed that this path is about 370 kilometers long, it could set a world record for the longest tornado track, beating a record that has stood for almost a 100 years. lose his trial of man, maurice deposed leisure on fancy. she has been adjourned. until next week, she's accused of violating pandemic restrictions. switching was already sentenced to 2 years in prison earlier in december in a separate case. and human rights launch has published a report seeing me and mars military leaders are blocking humanitarian aids. tony

chain is following the situation from bangkok. this is a really major problem according to human rights, whatever. and we've seen this since the military cou, a lot of people continuing to protest, we've seen a civil disobedience moving, which has effectively shut down the whole country for the, for the last 10 months. but there has caused enormous problems for the economy, for the infrastructure, things i transport within the country of all, but effectively shut down human rights watch actually say that before the, the, the qu, they were a 1000000 people who were dis deemed to be in need of assistance that number they say is now risen to 14400000, including 5000000 children. they so say those people are in desperate need of sustenance, of shelter, very basic things. they also say that the world has a responsibility to a $109000000.00 has been pledged by the world for aid to myanmar are,

but they say only 18 percent of their has so far been collected by the united nations. and that is desperately needed and that is likely to be one of the things on the agenda for you or secretary of state antony blinking when he visits this region. later this week, chicago ships have collided in the baltic sea. it happens in waters lying between denmark and sweden, swedish maritime authority. say 2 people on board danish vessel are missing. the ship appears to be up st. dang. they say the other ship is from the u. k. still functional. the crew are safe. in italy, rescue workers are searching for any more survivors in the rubble of several buildings that collapsed on the islands of sicily. they've recovered for more bodies. after digging for 30 hours, several people are now confirmed, dead. 2 are still missing. the buildings came down after a ghastly explosion on saturday in the town of revenue, sir. south korea and australia have signed a defense deal worth more than $700000000.00. south korea will supply australia

with artillery weapons supply vehicles and radar equipments. the largest defense deal between australia and an asian nation, and comes at a time of height and tension between australia and china. the delivery but important commitment of our government that we might. it's an important further chapter in the defense industry story for australia as we continue to build our sovereign capability. and career is an important partner in that journey, both in our security arrangements, but also in the building or by our sovereign capability in defense manufacturing. a foreign ministers are meeting in brussels with russia and china sat to talk the agenda, e foreign policy chief joe set burrell as join the 27 foreign ministers. they've got plenty to discuss before thursdays, e u leisure summit, including possible sanctions on russia, and whether the use should join

a diplomatic boycotts of the winter olympics in china. russia is wanting of confrontation if the u. s. and nato can't guarantee they would put weapons close to its territory. russia's, deputy foreign minister gave the warning after a demand by president vladimir putin for a legally binding guarantee that nato won't expand his presence further east neighboring ukraine wants to become a natal member. moscow is worried that with mean alliance forces could be moved. there is considered one of the most important wetlands in the world. so young a national park in southern spain as a unesco world heritage site and a refuge from migrating birds and endangered animals. but as natasha g, a name reports the park is suffering from years of war to theft by farmers and no adroit with every season a different diana emerges. spain's 57 year old national park is nature's tableau

of wetlands beaches dunes and pine forest ecosystems. scientists call the wetlands one of the most important on the planet. yet these days it's the dry season year round at this unesco world heritage site. you can see that it is not an integral the state now because there is no one there. so all day species, so finding one some and measured those which should be a protective and he said yet half or so it thrown him here. they are in children, 3000 seasonal pods used to dot the wetlands today. there are less than $100.00. the world wildlife fund or w w f says, this part is surrounded by 1600 hector's of illegal strawberry blueberry and raspberry farms. the farmers don't have a permit to use water from an aqua floor to irrigate their berries,

to preserve the ecosystem. the w w f says the water theft must and, and farmers, residents, and tourists need to conserve water. 10 years of lower than average rainfall and a drought declared last month, had exacerbated the water shortage. the farmers union in the province says barry farming provides 102000 jobs and instead of blaming them for streaming water resources, the government should complete a project to divert water from another basin. getting the 2nd time will come follow, unfolded yet, which i to london until hun you. we're fed up with the way we've been portrayed over many years. we've been dedicating our lives to this if we want to leave something here. so that is completely compatible. and so that our children can carry on doing this. to restrict water use, the spanish government sealed illegal wells and purchase farm land around diana national park. we have to go together with a farmer,

improved then by domains balconies, young. a super program i'm you should be still with use wasn't consumption because again, it here the young are in good, the health resource important for pharmacy in the future. for generations, the people and the park have co existed. if the future means less water, life may change for both. for the worst. natasha game, l g 0. well, the province spain and natalie bennett has become the 1st is really prime. and as soon to make an official visit to the united arab emirates, he's missing crown prince. mohammed's been science to discuss deepening ties and economic and regional issues. the you a ye established for how magic ties with israel last year? people in the northern ethiopian tone of lowly belo say to grind rebels, we captured the region just 2 weeks after government forces to control the t gray people's liberation front says it's launched several canter offenses. it's targeting the road, linking sheena and loudly, bella in the m horror,

region communications have been cut in the conflict. so, and that's made it hard to verify reports from natalie bella, which is home to a u. n. world heritage sites. there are no reports of fighting palestinians returning to renewable energy sources and a bit to get around tight is really restrictions. palestinians don't have access or control over the majority of lands in the occupied west bank. some are trying to install solar panels on rooftops to overcome this challenge is abraham reports. this is the largest power plant in the occupied bank. it has 20000 solar panels and is now generating electricity for 3 palestinian institutions, including this hospital and ramallah. before switching to solar energy hospital manager save a paid $1000000.00 a year in electricity bills for the past 2 years. that electricity has been free of charge for dr. henley, but when the solar panels are covering all of our needs of electricity as

a hospital, it's part of our social responsibility to use in the tricity that we're generating and reduced out dependency on israel and 90 percent of the electricity used in the occupied west bank is bought from israel. the rust comes from jordan and through renewable energy sources. the local palestinian initiative aims to install more solar panels in the west bank to reach reliance on green energy from 6 percent to 70 percent. what is really restrictions are complicating this process. israel prevents palestinians from developing the majority of land in the west bank, installing solar panels of school rooftop was one way around it. but access to lands is not the only issue, even when electricity is generated. it's not easy to transmitted from one location to another feller stand on the operates on low, low voltage and medium voltage grades. we don't have any transmission network that

would enable us to do large scale projects. so we had to size this project, both in terms of availability of land and the capacity of the grid to carry and evacuate the power produced here. tens of thousands of past indians live off the grid. international organizations provided them with solar panels. now they are the only source of power. it's hardly enough to generate electricity for basic needs and only operate during sunlight. even though the electrical grid is meters away by the wind communities here cannot benefit from it. it's part of the israeli electricity network and serves the illegal israeli settlements in the area of the palestinian energy authority says investment in solar energy is relatively new and it's still way down by bureaucracy. there is a gap of coordination between these institutions that when established in the law, that slowing down the process and the career kind of bureaucratic procedures

in a place where the sun shines more than 320 days a year. solar panels could solve the electricity problem, but it is these really occupation that's preventing the palestinian goals of energy, self reliance, media, abraham, and just either the occupied westbank. ah, this is al jazeera and these are the headlines, south africa's presidency. we're, i'm a poser, has tested positive for coven 19. he's being treated from mild symptoms on a porter has been vaccinated against the virus. for me, the miller has more from johannesburg. he's being monitored by military doctors. they say that he's doing well. and while he's in isolation and his duties will be performed by the deputy president or the prison presidency rather hasn't a.