or that things change studio be unscripted on his era. what happens in new york has implications all around the world. it's international perspective with the human touch, booming way, and then pulling back out again. ah . on the chrome creates travel chaos around the world to airlines cancel thousands of flights because of record corbin 19 infections. ah, had brought them this is alex is the one live from dog. also coming up a commission calls for gabby as former president ayame, to stand trial for murder, torture and rape. demand for answers and bonds. they shot to a fun, killed at least 39 people on

a ferry plot. the and prayer for better your head, corbett, 19 damper. christmas celebrations around the world. for a 2nd year club and 19 has proven to be the light bear before christmas. rising infections, particularly of the on the con, variant of disrupted people's holiday travel plans across the world. airlines have been forced to cancel more than 4000 flights over the next 2 days. they've been suffering severe staff shortages due to corona virus infections. most cancellations came from 5 airlines base to china. the us and india. gabriel elizondo is that new a k for new jersey in the us? well, we have spoke a few of the passengers and some of them are taking it in stride. if you will

saying, listen, i've been one guy said, i've been vaccinated not once twice, but 3 times i'm going to wear a mask and i'm going to try to get on my flight. go home and see my family. other people are definitely more worried about these cancellations here at newark airport . we've seen long lines kind of evan flow throughout the day. there's been a lot of delays, a few cancellations here and there, particularly in another terminal where there's a lot of united flights where we're at. we have definitely seen the strain of this . it's not only the um recon variance that is now affecting people on the ground, but affecting travelers trying to get up in the air to go home on this holiday season. the biggest cancellation here in the us are with united and delta united, about 176 cancel flights today and dealt with a little over 160. and they're already starting to cancel flight for the coming days as well. united actually sending out a message on, on, on,

on the phone. so effective travelers saying your flight has been canceled and it's due to the surgeon cove. it cases that are affecting our staffing, essentially pilots flight attendants ramp agents just like everyone else. catching henrique on very into very high rates, particularly here in the northeast of the u. s. they're calling in sick, and that is primarily what's causing these problems here in the u. s. i will say here in newark airport, one of the longest lines other than the check in lines. where would you guess at the cove? it test site, one floor above me in long lines there all day of travelers wanting to be tested. now chris, know they come on as the director of the duke global health innovation center. and he says, although some studies suggest on the call and infections are milder, hospitals could still be overwhelmed with cases are not handling it very well. unfortunately, we do know that the trans miss ability is significant for the oma con variance,

so we're seeing case numbers rise dramatically over 260000 cases reported just yesterday. and even though we're cautiously optimistic that the severity is lower, where the rates of hospitalizations may be anywhere from 20 to 80 percent lower than we saw with the delta v area. and the sheer numbers mean that even if a few people as a percent are ending up in hospitals, that still is going to overwhelm many of our health system. we really have to both continue to vaccinate as aggressively as we can. but we can't forget about all of the other measures. we do need to make sure that we're masking that we're following the at the testing access to treatment using every tool we have in our arsenal to make sure we're, we're maximizing our chance of getting through the next few weeks. well, the u. k. government will send millions of text messages on boxing day urging people to get their booster jabs. it's the latest attempt to combat the rapid sight of the on the cross variance old and 32000000 booster answer doses have already be

administered or challenge reports. you might not have to do that just they may be christmas, but the u. k. is vaccine boost a program rolls on without a pause. this is portsmouth on england, south coast and jobs are being given to people who slips between the cracks. i mean, know that i'm not, i'm not facts and i said we need to get the town vaccinated to be able to, as well as a normal is particularly the homeless, the very vulnerable at this time of year, the cold, they sleep rough i'm. i definitely need to be protected from someone come by this by christmas day, the 25th and boxing day, the 26 being holidays jobs are still being given. it's just this sort of public service that boris johnson, frank, health workers and care is for. and his christmas message, all those in the chess, what he over christmas, our coworkers, everyone involved in the incredible vaccination campaign. those looking after

people who have lost loved ones this year, that who would otherwise be on the road? he said been so many words. those getting vaccinated and boosted are doing what jesus would have wanted. getting jobs, not just for themselves for ourselves, but for friends and family and everyone. we meet that after all. is the teaching of jesus christ, whose birth is at the heart of this enormous festival. ah, across europe on a crone is rampant, but countries are responding differently. germans q outside shops to show their health passes. nightclubs will be shot after christmas. and major events, we'll have attendance limits. spain has brought back mandatory mosque wearing outside now as well as inside. but the netherlands locked down is still something of an outlier, non essential shops, restaurants, hair, dresses, gyms, museums, and other public places the close until at least the middle of january. another

christmas in the shadow of covey. 19 glory challenged al jazeera moving on to other news now in gambia is truth and reconciliation commission has recommended that former president, he, i, janay stands trial for murder, torture, and rape. the commission began its inquiry in 2017 when janay flew into exile after refusing to accept defeat and presidential elections. yamil came to power in 1994 through military could and held office for 22 years. while the commission heard testimony from hundreds of witnesses, it found that jeremy's henchmen, including a personal at school squad call the jugglers, were responsible for $44.00 specific crimes journalists, former soldiers, political opponents and civilians were targeted in a series of killings, torture and rapes, president adam about received the report earlier this month for the findings have only been made public on friday. shami hasn't responded to the findings. well,

let's get more on this now. we're joined by baba jello. he is executive secretary off the truth reconciliation and reparations commission. and he's joining us live from bang june, very good to have you with us on al jazeera. so how did you go about making sure that 1st and foremost, that this commission was about gathering evidence? you know, the, for the country can get to the reconciliation or the reparations. i deal with it by the president and he was company for some odd when he won the election. but in december 2016, one of the 1st things you did a was a good idea. let me look at what happened in this country, or is i, you know, by looking at that ruby, i will get

a country. and a lot of this process has been very public televised even what has that meant for gambit. but that meant that everyone was on board. the idea of making all the hearings public hopefulness to transfer into a deliberate study bite to come on to make so that the process is visible to everyone that everyone knows exactly what's happening. this country that the process is credible and that no one can come around and see that the evidence was booked. so it is not meant that everyone knows exactly what transpired here. wonder that again and going for the commission recommends prosecuting job a and has called perpetrators and an international tribunal in the country and the west african sub region. what will it take to make that happen?

where you suddenly silly, so that it has to come in the nurse and she will know what the comments on how you sort of commend the present keystone of jenn me and those who are most responsible for motorized by lessons the ways and means of prosecuting them in the house and so it's on necessarily that the coming on has to come in that sense and you know, given the seriousness of the allegations against mr. charmaine has come accused, how important is it that there is a free and fair trial when he's popularly important to be? and so we are hoping that the government that aspirated, giving me a commitment to implement the recommendations that we make. so she and as i head right now, the article in this, i was surprised. but of course the i just got this on the chinese have not

been profile against anyone. so to get some idea of that. and we hope that they would all have that date cards. those who do not qualify for misty. and then the more thought. and how important is that day in court to ensure that ya may con, return to power in gambia, you know, given on his promise to return home, he still has some supporters and has, you know, influence does remain where we haven't what you to do. read. yeah, yeah, maybe talking about wondering if, if he has a day in court and he's declared enough and then he might as well try to do it on that. that is the defendant commission. but what we have recommended is that all of those were found to be most responsible for my resume and isms prosecuted. and we are hoping that the government can be every one or 2 rich commitments right now to

do that. mister galloway. thank you very much for your time on this. really appreciate it. that is barbara jello live in bon jewel. thank you. you're welcome. thank you. now at least 39 people have been killed and bind a day after a fire vet through a ferry carrying hundreds of passengers. please say it broke out on the engine room in the middle of the night and quickly and gulf the bullet that and 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. many survivors of suff, a terrible burn injuries and the death toll is expected to rise. i was on the 2nd floor. suddenly the engine exploded in court for it had been mailed functioning from earlier on. but the negligence of the ferry authority resulted in the fall. the ferry was coveting curtains, all 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's crisscrossed by more than a 130 rivers. the government to set up 2 committees to investigate the fire. they've been ordered to report their findings in 3 dates. bernard smith, i'll jersey still ahead on the bulletin spain. 5 months in germany was hit with to

the flood. why have some people not been able to return home and winning lead heading down plan poetry competition is empowering young people. ah, we could see our 1st white christmas in vancouver here, 13 years. hello everyone. we're under a snowfall warning so that snow is going to fall and stick, especially when you consider those temperatures are plunging. the 3 day forecast shows us on monday, vancouver minus 5 well below average. so i want to pick up the story there. here we are on monday, zoom out north america, but the colors on the dark of the purple, the lower the temperature. this is impacting western canada and the western us los angeles, just a high of 12 degrees back to the here. and now we do have some heavy bouts of snow

through the sierra nevada, reno nevada, over the next little bit, looking to pick up about 10 centimeters and more rain come natur for california. and for texas is about this exceptional warmth houston. yet could i set a new record if you hit 30 degrees on saturday toward the east of canada, the northeast of the u. s. we've got some rain fallen here. so temperatures are actually above where they should be. central america, fairly quiet, lots of sunny spells, a few scattered showers costa rica into panama, of course, where we got all that activity bubbling up is the top end of south america through the andes, amazon basin, and look at these rock and storms closing in on salvador and for patagonia looking good in the sunshine, coma doro up to 30 degrees on saturday. that's it, sir. ah frank assessments this gracious i continued to weaken a location even though perhaps you believe them the beginning that it will be

informed opinions. i think on addition will now be under incredible pressure from the young people. that is one of the most things can come out of this critical debate. do you think a should be facilitated? not sure. okay, it's a great. it's a really simple question. let's give me a chance. once inside story on al jazeera, ah the me watching on the on with me, elizabeth serrano reminder of our top stories this hour. more than 4000 flights have been cancelled on the christmas weekend. major airlines suffering staff shortages. corona virus infection,

u. k prime minister bond johnson urging the public to get a boost of vaccine shot over the christmas holiday cases, a surgeon across europe. spain has ordered mom to be mandatory outdoors and gambia truth and reconciliation commission has recommended the president jeff charmaine stand trial for murder, torture, and rape. he fled to exxon in 2017, to refusing to accept the feed in the presidential election. well, it's from you more on the traveler disruption caused by clover 19 join. now by jo leader. he's a ceo of the airline passenger experience association and he's joining us live via zoom from fiji. mr. lee, to thank you very much for joining us on al jazeera, on christmas eve. it is a devastating situation for people trying to be with their families of the christmas holidays. all those have had their flights canceled. how damaging is this surgeon curve at 19 cases, for airline?

it's fairly damaging and what's affecting the airlines. the most is the lack of available pilots in crude apply. like done a very good job in gauging aircraft wherever possible. it's really consolidating flights as much as possible to make sure the people make it home by christmas. here in fiji, where i traveled to 48 hours ago from the united states. it's christmas day here already. and from what i'm seeing, the reports from airlines over 90 percent of passengers are being able to be accommodated to get home in time for christmas. but it's sometimes taking in additional stops for re routing to accommodate sure. is there anything else i could have done to avoid these last minute cancellation? i think that the airlines have done a great job and staffing up and maximizing the number of people that they have ready to work on the holidays. some of our airlines have done incentives as much as 3 times and normally pay for flight crews to get so much as additional workers,

while their colleagues are back to back in by the new varian. but you can't really anticipate this type of surge so rapidly. i think that's what surprised some of our airlines and they've been down as possible under the circumstances in making sure that they can get people you know, given a, given the lack of things that we can anticipate right now, would you advise people avoid traveling because of the uncertainty you know, i can see from, from my personal perspective, so my wife's a medical doctor and we actually took his trip because of the cobra. adding it be a holy vaccinated slides and the full way to fly. so you that for example, flying your way here and on december 1st and full of positive arrival. and that's what people need to look for. they need to be thinking

about their travels safely, making sure they're properly mass, making sure they're properly tested and vaccinated, and boosted. and that's, that's all we can do right now. i think we've learned from proven they will be waves, but what really hurts so much this year? is it this way? once again? right, chris? absolutely. you know, it's been a month after the, on the con, variance 1st was 1st identified in south africa and was starting to see cases are on the decline. that is, that give you an idea of on the cons, impact of how long its impact will be on the airline industry. it really does. and that's a great question. what you're looking for in terms of when it rises and false, we tend to say go through a similar motion. so as, as we've seen, south africa go from its p 2 is very steep decline a 30 day time window to say we should be paying for the u. s. for other parts of

the world affected. but as it read the new parts, the world that have not been effected, yes, we'll see this delay back. i think the good news is for p one. once we get past this search for the end of this month for january, i think you'll see much more will return to your travel and that's good for all the passengers will live that far too restricted for too long. it should open up our world more later. thank you very much for your time on this. that is joe leda. joining us live from fiji. thank you. now, 5 months out of flood devastated towns and villages in germany. many people still can't return to their homes. the governments come on the criticism for responds with volunteers stepping in to help step boss and reports from the german town of r y la. 5 months ago toby, a shot left his business as an event organizer to help victims of the lot. you want

to sure those literally left in the cold flood damage their homes. didn't have to stay that way. for too long. with his team of volunteers, he started to collect air conditioning can be used as well with the temperature dropping below 0 until ground floor destroyed. daniel coatings over has been camping in her bathroom. the hospital 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 the governments off off help us yet to be seen and have him of it on top of them on the days when you think things are going well and it's moving forward. but then something happens. and you have these days when you just fall apart than ever seen, comes back and living in this construction site where freezing and it's always the r valley in the western part of germany was hit by floods after days of torrential

rains. almost 200 people were killed for survivors of the floods. winter has not only brought darkness and cold, but it also as we find there too much memories, while thousands of volunteers have held them to cope so far due to lack of government so forth. many here feel 5 months on have been forgotten or be shot, blames this on long and complicated government procedures. gill, i'm lang 5 people, so the government has a lot of bureaucracy, 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 k to help they build a camp where hundreds of people receive meals have access to a laundry service and governmental house support all paid for were donations. for

now we talk about round about 8000000 euro only we get from golf and. busy everywhere from germany, we have to say no from everybody or something from switzerland, from netherlands, from looks book. it's the power social media around $1000.00 heaters have now being and sure mentalist have learned again about humanity and solidarity and sticking together. so i have a lot of hope that the pilot project in our town can be spread through germany, and it can be spread throughout the world. it's one of the hi. dinah coatings over it means winter will just be a little bit warmer. fish. fasten al jazeera in our support. frances urged the world to embrace humility and remember the poor. the head of the roman catholic church, lead christmas eve mass at the st. peter's. the silica the number of people who

could attend was increased from last year, despite concerns of the spike. it covers 19 cases in the city. and the pandemic has cast a shadow of a christmas eve celebrations and bethlehem, and occupied with bank leaves alive pictures of midnight. mass of the sierra israel have banned almost all international travel, including to occupied palestinian territories. neither abraham has more all these people here of gather to welcome the latin battery out of jerusalem. yet the step, it's about his arrival here and now that beginning of the christmas celebration here battle i have, this is the sound we're may boston is, will tell you. is there a way to lafayette to be because many believe that the the sky was going to hear and back. now back to last year. numbers of people are allowed to enter here. the major square is much more. it's a more festive season. last year,

people weren't even allowed to attend this celebration here in the square. now, one element many palestinians would tell you is missing is tourism. this is a city that has long depended on tourists coming in. but this is the plan that make the board does have only been open for just 2 week. israel is the one who control who has access to the occupied left bank. it's very nice to see some people around here. however, this is only the 10th of what used to be here normally is. this gives me a little bit of hope that things will get better hopefully in the, in the, in the, in the near future. we still need some time to recover fully. keep in mind we ought not to find people within a very, very resilient people. jesus what's going on that occupation. he was born at the child's and i mean to assemble ability and weakness. i dictated,

tried to kill them, but need to fight a lot. and they all that game and from that down game, a message will be sent home the dentist of the world as a palestinian. i do believe that they 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, my fiance, goal for many years they that they are monday. celebrate things. even if the race large people are sending me that the message of christmas is all about they all the next year. now slam poetry in senegal is getting nationwide attention spoken word competitions of a blend of hip hop music and politics and popular across french speaking africa. nicholas hark reports from the capital deca. a moment of

hesitation. perhaps stage frank before delivering a message from i remember 16 year old number 2 says when she was like the earth to me. like a father to me, like the ocean to me. she love and protected me before suddenly disappearing and owed from a son to a mother that left the earth too soon. in this national school slam poetry contest, teenage students speaking french of arabic, were mixed of all of them. there is no barrier of language, no theme or rules to follow new mistakes to be made. number, this is slam poetry, movement to your freedom of expression. all of her chummy g ring gave a declaration to announce her love for god, for women, for the city and her ancestral libra culture old and by a common thread. faith. trust into

her words, speak to her riveted crowd of hundreds of teenagers who for a brief moment are not distracted by their phones. but captured by poetry. the who's got in you to judge or famous lin poetry already. now my love, just as the crowd grows into the night, silence spread is broken by the echoing voice of poets beneath the car's monument of their own. nissan. slam poetry is about the delivery, the diction and the depth of the woods. i'm really amazed the level of these students is pretty impressive. senegal 1st head of state lou bolted us anger known as the poet president, a prolific writer sanger devoted a 3rd of the national budget to arts and culture. despite most people living in poverty and being illiterate, sank or was following the countries long tradition of using poetry, music, and art to transmit knowledge and faith. though it is just necessary to promote the

some portrait stored at computers, hm. that can help them develop beer, mitigation that edition in their talent education, develop their writing skills and best we can still over a 1000 students took part in the event with only a dozen left and competition. the judges have to decide a winner and runner up. oh mama do is announced runner up, leaving the trophy to 18 year old, chummy ging gary, good me, slam is democratic poetry. she says it allows our soul to travel a gift of simple words for the masses to just be present and feel the moment. nicholas hawk al jazeera de carr ah.