why they've gotten this so wrong, that to me is political mouth for the bottom line on us politics and policies and the impact on the world on al jazeera. ah, this is al jazeera ah, your walton and his are alive from a headquarters in del hi. i'm daddy now the guys are coming up in the next 60 minutes on the chrome, dampens holiday plans. hundreds of flights are cancelled just before christmas. as corona, virus infections surge globally, an overcrowded ferry catches fire in bangladesh, killing a please 39 people. and we're in bethlehem, in the occupied west spain to see how the pandemic is affecting the sears christmas

celebrations. plus, after nearly 20 years of setbacks, the world's biggest and most powerful telescope is ready for launch. and in sports, a meeting between managers and the premier league to discuss the coven 19 situation is described as a waste of time by tottenham coach. with welcome to the news hour more than 2000 flights globally have been cancelled on christmas eve. the latest blow caused by the highly transmissible on the cross variance its left would be travellers stranded as the holiday season kicks off with tons of delta and united airlines. also, the virus has effected their flight cruise over in the u. k. the prime minister is ers the public to get booster shots during the festive season. and other countries like france on australia has shortened the wait time to receive booster shots as they rush to stem the tide of infections. we have gabriel is on the standing by for

us. he's joining us from newark airport in new jersey to tell us what you're seeing where you are. gabriel. it's pretty quiet here right now, but over the course of the morning and we've been here all morning for more than 4 or 5 hours now. you know, we've seen lots of long lines, delayed flights, a few cancellations and some of the other terminals. but it's fairly quiet here right now we just did get in some new numbers from flight aware that tracks global flights and it now the cancellations globally are up to about 3500 according to flight aware here in the united states. it's united in delta 2 of the main carriers that have the most delays united with 176 delta with 158. and they are all due to operational issues. in fact, united saying its operational dish issues directly related to the armory con

variant and his surgeon covert cases that is impacting staffing, a flight attendance and pilots. that's a text message that they are sending out to any travelers that have been affected. it's all coming at a very busy time here in many parts of the world, celebrating the christmas holiday here in north america, particularly in the united states. the tsr transformation security administration said one day this week on thursdays matter of fact, 2100000 people passed through security screening areas in airports in the u. s. that is more people traveling now than they did during the holiday season in 2019 before the pan dammit. so all of these cancellations and delays are coming at a time when a lot of people want to travel to see loved ones this holiday season. yeah, well this is happening. we know that the president joe biden has listed some travel restrictions. what we, what do we know about that?

yeah, he's lifted the travel restrictions for people from 8 countries, mostly in southern africa. these were restrictions that were put in place in late november in response to the crime variance. we 1st heard about coming from south africa. that's why these restrictions were put into place. but now, based on the white house is saying, based on recommendations from the cdc, those restrictions can be lifted and they will be lifted and go into effect on january 1st. it's important what 8 countries the ards south africa swan is in bob way then maybe maybe a the so so that's where teeny, which is also known as towards the land in some areas mozambique and my la away. all of those countries now will no longer have the travel restrictions to the u. s . starting on january 1st. thank you so much. gabriel is on the reporting from

newark airport in new jersey. over the u. k. the prime minister boars johnson resistant calls for higher tighter restrictions for the holidays as case a surge to record highs. though the time for buying presence is theoretically running out. there is still a wonderful thing. you can give your family and the whole country that is to get that job, whether it's your 1st or 2nd, or your booster. so that next year's festivities are even better than this years. and in the meantime, i thank you. i wish you all a very merry christmas or challenge has more on johnson speech. he had basically peppered his speech with lots of rhetorical flourishes. the kind of things you're familiar with. if you listen to bar johnson speak. often. he said that if you needed a bigger turkey this year, if you have more brussel sprouts to peel, if there's more washing out to do,

if they're a big piles of wrapping paper underneath the tree, then that's all to the good. because that shows the, you have been able to spend christmas with the people the in love as opposed to last year when effectively christmas was cancelled. a very short notice and lots of families had to stay by themselves. no mingling in large groups at all. so the message from barbara johnson is that this year it's different. and if you get your job, he drilled at home again and again to get your job the next year is going to be better still. he went even so far as to say, it's probably what jesus would have wanted. he said that getting a job as a community might thing to do. you not just thing if it felt you're doing it for everyone who live knew you and that's what jesus his message was as well. of course, he's right to say that this christmas is better than last years, but with omicron rampaging through the country,

everyone knows multiple people who have cobit at the moment. many people are having to isolate so that the virus is still costing a big shadow over this festive season, had it as it did last one as well. at least 39 people had been killed in bangor, dash after a fire, read through a ferry carrying hundreds of passengers. police say it broke out in the engine room in the middle of the night and quickly engulfed the boats. bernard smith reports this overnight ferry was packed with up to 800 people heading out of docker for a weekend, away with friends and family. many would have been sleeping in these crowded cabins as the fire took hold in the engine room. oh, the engine had been running for about an hour while on fire. later, the fire probably spread from the engine to the earl tanker and his tub with a loud bang at this spot where he is standing right now about that it was not as flames whipped through the fairy. many passengers jumped into the river to escape,

according to police. they believe the engine carried on running for an hour as the fire took hold, no one, many survivors of suffered terrible burn injuries and the death toll is expected to rise. i was on the 2nd floor. suddenly the engine exploded and caught fire. it had be malfunctioning from earlier on. but the negligence of the fairy authority resulted in the far, the fairy was coveting curtains, while the heat from the explosion was trapped inside. and that he'd made everything firm, dozens of bodies have been recovered so far, very accidents, a common in bangladesh, usually blamed on over crowding, and lacks enforcement of rules. fairies are a main means of transport and a country that criss crossed by more than a 130 riddles. the government to set up 2 committees to investigate the fire. they been ordered to report their findings in 3 dates. bernard smith, our jersey center moorehead on the office here in missouri,

including cleaning up from political chaos. people in sudan save her, they have been left to fend for themselves, repair and rebuild. it's been 5 months since germany was hit with severe flooding. so why have some people not been able to return home and be a action coming up in sport? steph curry delivers another shooting muster class to lead the warriors to victory . ah, but 1st christmas celebrations have begun. and bethlehem the biblical birthplace of jesus christ. but the outbreak of be on the cross variance has meant fewer events. this year. the town has been almost deserted as israel, which controls travel to the occupied west bank as effectively suspended for and tourism because of the pandemic. deborah, him has more from bethlehem. all these people here have gathered to welcome the

lathan batriyal of jerusalem. yet read these that the bad is arrival here. and now the beginning of the christmas celebration here battle i have, this is the sound where many balance it is with value is like way to lafayette and the because many believe that the, the fried was born here in matlab. now, but the last, your numbers of people are allowed to enter here. the majors where is much more is the more press these in last year. people weren't even allowed to attend this celebration here in the square. now one elements, many pals, videos would tell you is missing is doris, them. this is, this is the, the path log. the banded on door it's coming in. but the crowd that make the board is, i've only been open for just do read. israel is the one who put droll, who has access to the occupied by bank. it's very noise to see some people around here. however, this is only the 10th of what used to be here in normal use. this gives me

a little bit hope that things will get better hopefully in the, in the soon in the, in the near future. we still need some time to recover fully. keep in mind we ought not white people within them on the question we policy as not very, very resilient people. jesus do was born on dr. mason. he was born at the time that i mean to a symbol for vulnerability and weakness. i dictated, tried to kill him, but need to fight a lot. and the old that game and from this that down game a message will be sent home the dentist of the world as a palestinian. i do believe that i have a palestinian identity. i have like this is my city, this is my country and i'm not, i'm not really able to move. it was like it was freedom and inside my country, this might be obstacles. many here are they that they are lucky that there is no upgrade with that, that race,

overbuild me. people are telling me that that method of christmas is all about home . they all next here was the back 5 months after floods devastated towns and villages in germany. many people have still not been able to return to their homes. the governments come under criticism for its response with volunteers stepping in to help stuff. austin reports from the german town of our valor, 5 months ago to be a shot left his business as an event organizer to help victims of the flood. he wants to ensure those literally left in the cold after flops damaged their homes. didn't have to stayed that way for too long. with his team of volunteers, he started to collect air conditioner can be used as well. with the temperature dropping below 0 until ground floor destroyed down your coatings over has been camping in her bathroom. the hot food stay to you all we have is this room. we

sleep here. we cook here. everything happens here. downstairs, the situation has not changed since a night in july when she and her 3 children had to escape from the water. she has no insurance and a government's off off helpless yet to be seen of him and have him a veto on the top of my days when you think things are going well and he's moving forward. but then something happens. and you have these days when you just fall apart than everything comes back and living in this construction site where freezing and it's always the valley in the western part of germany was hit by floods after days of torrential rains, almost $200.00 people were killed for survivors of the floods winter has not only brought darkness and cold, but it also as we fight there to take memories, while thousands of volunteers have held them to cope so far due to a lack of government support. many here feel 5 months on have been forgotten or be shot, blames this on long and complicated government procedures. gill,

i'm lang portez kept for the government has a lot of iraq receive, so it takes too long to provide help quickly. we have an immediate help program from the government, but that takes too long to reach people. immediate help means that if someone calls us for heating, we have to install it the next day. we need to reassess disaster protocols in germany. more than 100000 fallen p s came to help they build a camp where hundreds of people receive meals have access to a laundry surface and got mental health support all paid for with donations. for now, we talk about round about 8000000 euro only. we get from what go everywhere from germany. we have to say now from everybody. we have something from switzerland, from netherland, from looks and book. it's the power social media around $1000.00 heaters have now been and i'm sure mentalist have learned again about humanity and

solidarity and sticking together. so i have a lot of hope. the pilot project in our town can be spread through germany and with this period spread throughout the world. what i thought, i know pruning told what it means. winter will just be a little bit warmer. that fastened al jazeera in our apple is at risk of being fine more than $55000000.00. after a watchdog rule that broke competition laws and another learned, the dutch regulator says the tech trying abuse this power by requiring developers on its app store to use its payment system, dating apps complained arrangements stopped them from directly communicating with customers about payments. apple has been given 3 weeks to offer alternative methods, methods to avoid a fine. i mean, while russian court has fine to the world's biggest tech companies for failing to delete content, the country deems illegal, google has been find nearly

a $100000000.00 and massa just over $27000000.00. they're reviewing the ruling. it comes with the government has to do several new laws targeting online platforms. human rights groups say moscow campaign threatens freedom of speech, migrants and refugees stuck at the bell a ruse. poland border said their situation is becoming increasingly desperate. hundreds of people have spent more than a month at a temporary shelter and by the ruse hoping to cross into the you. temperatures now have dropped below minus 10 degrees celsius. some of the migrants say they may brave the forested areas near the border and the hope of finally making it into poland. sedans, reinstated, prime minister abdulla hand dog has been trying to appoint a new cabinet for more than a month without success. the people of sudan say they're the ones paying the price through the resulting political and economic chaos. mohammed val reports from her to him. his arm used to own 3 vehicles for rental and public

transportation. just a few years ago, he considered himself a successful entrepreneur. but to not any more, we drove with a psalm and his last remaining vehicle, which is also planning to sell in order to meet his families, leads barrow, the earl of her sailor. the situation is different now. you can no longer pay for the education of your children. can't buy food because a loaf of bread is now 40 pounds. if a family member fall sick, you can't pay for their treatment. people have drained their savings, likes become absolutely untenable. many sudanese share the same view, but the crisis is a direct result of political chaos and the lack of proper government. the absence of government in this country is not a figurative expression. it's rather little. and that's because over 2 thirds of the cabinet ministers have not been appointed so far, including those of interior players defense. and that situation has been going on

for nearly 2 months. there was been an explosion in prices soaring inflation and the huge rise in unemployment, leaving many people in a state of desperation. one of the few ministers remaining in his job after october's military takeover is jabrisa by him. head of the dar for arm justice and equality movement. he defends the lifting of subsidies and an immediate plunge into a deregulated, free market economy that subsidies for, for example, for foothill. i have a for a wheat i for gas and for foot at the different commodities distorted their economy. i shall, it's a blanket for subsidy. they're each are getting the same as a pool. he believes more people will now be forced to find a job in their past. and

a 1015 persons in. if i extended family, i rely on a single would of working person and that a person will try to feed them through his sad and then mega income. one salary. now practically cannot do that. and if people, if they're not working them going to feed themselves. so they have to go and look forward. that's what we're trying to do. but this approach is not popular among the sudanese and that doesn't have been better than what's happening in the country is affecting the market and people's ability to buy and sell merchants raising prices that they wish. while the government has given them free reign, it doesn't seem to care. sudanese households are in a deep mis because of this policy in m. s to our basic services including sanitation and st cleaning. but in the heart of this, with any capital passers by, appear as indifferent to what they see of the authorities. how much fun are the 0

cartoon. the saudi led coalition fighting in yemen, say they've destroyed 9 locations where the rebels were storing weapons. airstrikes took place across the capitol. son off the picture show the aftermath of the forces, deny accusations. they hid weapons in its 4th complex. the rebels have repeatedly launch drones on miss all stockton to saudi arabia. since the conflict began in 2015 polling stations in libya are closed, where long awaited presidential elections were due to be held on a train is that a school in the capital tripoli were voting was meant to take place on friday. today is libya, 70th anniversary for independence or independence day. it's also the day that a presidential election should have been run. so we're here in morris, where, where you can see a crowd gathering as libyan celebrate the historic day and live in history. but

right next to the celebration, you have people protesting here saying that election shouldn't go shouldn't go ahead without a constitution there calling for a constitutional referendum before a presidential election takes place. now just wednesday, the liberty of high national elections commission suggested that elections be postponed until january 24th. and really, we're not seeing any regret. we've talked to a couple of people. and here's what one of them had to say on the limit to what you're seeing on the ground. and when you look at the live in social media, most of the live in people are calling for constitutional research and them a presidential election without the constitution is impossible of almost the halo. so what we're seeing now is libyans calling for our lametre election to move ahead . they want the constitutional referendum that identifies the governing power

rather than they are a resident with a believe we move the country forward on as far as preparing for the launch of the most powerful and largest observatory, sense into space. the james web space telescope is due to block off around 1220 gmc on christmas day, more than 20 years later than planned. that's cross live to manuel rap hello, who's joining us from crew that's in french vienna, which is from where the telescope will be launched and manual the project has experience years of set back. so is this is to launch on track. then go ahead on christmas morning. that's right. or in years of setbacks, years of delays. i want to set the scene for you a little bit. we're at the spaceport in guiana in the city of carew. and i want to point to this a large spacecraft. that's right behind me. this is an exact replica of the same area and 5 rocket that's going to be ferrying the james web space telescope into

its orbit on december 25th. now this is not an exact replica, this is about 6 meters shorter than the real thing. the reason for that is a special housing had to be made to accommodate this very large space telescope. it's the largest one ever sent into space. it's the most powerful space telescope ever built and again, 25 years in the making 25 years worth of setbacks delays cuts in funding that have held the project back. the telescope itself was supposed to be sent into space in 2020, but was delayed due to the cobra 19 pandemic. just this month. it was suppose, it was delayed 3 times in part due to increment whether the fact that we're now starting the rainy season here in french guiana. but it does seem as though conditions are finally optimal for that launch to happen. and excitement is high. take a look. it's one of the most highly anticipated space missions in recent memory. after more than 2 decades of setbacks and delays,

the james web space telescope is finally cleared for launch and expectations at the space center in french, vienna, or high. and i think i speak for everyone to say that we're, we're really excited to see it launch and i think everyone's done everything they can to make it a successful launch as well. web is the most powerful space telescope ever built its mission to pier back 13500000000 years ago to the early stages of our universe . scientists say the potential for a new discovery could up and everything we know about our place in the cosmos. all we're really trying to look further back in time and, you know, examine how some of those 1st galaxies formed where we're trying to rewrite some of the astronomy votes that exist right now. at the space museum in the city of crew, a new generation of astronomers anxiously await lift on one. and the excitement is just as high for aspiring scientists as it is for the grown ups who have been

waiting for this moment. for years, we went to hear the music, i'm acela's phone and i've been studying astronomy for 10 years. i'm very excited about this telescope. so many questions will be answered thanks to it. i study excel planets, those planets that orbit stars, other than our son, and looking at their atmosphere, we could find possible evidence of extra terrestrial life. the web space telescope represents a collaborative effort by more than a dozen countries and the work of thousands of scientists and engineers from all over the world. the faring sitting on top of that area and 5 rocket is housing. the james web space telescope and those rocket boosters that you see on the side of the spacecraft have been filled with some 480 metric tons of solid fuel propellant just enough to blast off and send this payload some one and a half 1000000 miles away from her with the rocket now sitting on its launch pad, fingers are crossed and collective breaths are being held for weather conditions to

be optimal on the day of launch. now this mission is now says highest to scientific and priority and representatives of from the space agencies from the united states, from france, i and elsewhere in europe, as well as representatives from arion space. the private sector company, this private space company, that's in charge of ensuring that everything goes smoothly. they're all here. that is to say that not everybody that wanted to be here was able to make it again due to those set backs. b due to those delays, as well as the cobit restrictions, and the fact that the delays have been moved. the launch itself has been moved to christmas itself. there is a lot of confidence that this launch is finally going to happen, however, and in doing so will usher in a new era in astronomy. okay, great. thank you. we'll be looking forward to it. thank you so much. manuel. rappel reporting from french guiana. still ahead on the al jazeera news hour how female journalist and i've done a song struggling to keep their jobs under taliban rule. but i must have been

job aide in a mangrove forest just off theory b and c. and i'll tell you how the lack of fresh water is killing species of mangrove. and we hear from england cricket captain joe route on his side. my foods are roughly controlled back from australia and the a we may see some rain across the gulf states. hello everyone. let's talk about that right off the bat. it all has to do with this ribbon of cloud draped over sections of saudi. we'll go in for a closer look. i'll put this day for now and we'll find ourselves on sunday. could see the showers through buffer rain and i think probably the northwest of cats are maybe not don't specifically, but there is certainly the risk for it. and those winds will still be crank into

about 50 kilometers per hour. next for go into pakistan. enjoy. well, you can, because temperatures here will be falling in the days to come. that includes for the horse. so for now, a cloudy day at 19 degrees temperatures, however, are going up and is stumble, but it comes out a bit of a cost. you can see there's winds pick up through the boss 1st, central africa. we've got our plentiful storms here where we would expect to see it specially around lake victoria here. heart tomb a bit below average with those winds out of the north $29.00 degrees. and as we look toward the south, we got some rock in storms across them. bob boys, central southern portions of news and big still wet weather for eastern portions of south africa, just south of derby. and the other day we scooped up more than a 100 millimeters of rain and still feeling like summer in cape town. 30 degrees the high for you on saturday. enjoy. that's it. we'll see again soon. ah,

there's a lot more to al jazeera than t v. with our website mobile app, social media and podcast, al jazeera digital is a world of award winning online content. and portal brings you the very best of it . they're trying to brighten the people to levy to go somewhere else. the truth is that they've got nowhere else to go. so if you missed it online to catch up here with me, sandra gatlin on our 0 talk to i'll just see. oh, are you in a while to warm? we listen as zionists are making serious efforts in order to in t and disrupt, to chat with global use maintenance. i'm talking about the stormy stuck on how juicy holding the powerful to account was. we examined the u. s. seats role in the world on al jazeera

lou. ah, hello again. the top story from the al jazeera news hour, more than 2000 flights of in council, globally on christmas eve. the latest blow served by the army chron variance of the corona virus. of tom's are united on delta airlines say the virus has taken its full on their staff. at least 39 people have died after ferry caught fire and bangladesh rescue teams managed to save some passengers. but local sources say the death toll is likely to rise.