where it all began and investigates how far we've come since the pandemic january on a jesse about ah, travel tails said christmas redcoat grown virus infections, false thousands of flights to be cancelled or delayed. ah, clem civil robin watching all their life while headquarters here in de ha! also coming up a commission in the gun vehicles, the former president yama, to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity. i'm a solomon job in northern pakistan and i'll tell you how changing weather patterns are having an impact on the lives of millions of people here on the countdown zone

as nasa proposed to launch the largest most powerful telescope ever built. ah, spoken to the program christmas travel plans have once again been thrown into calles by the crone of virus pandemic. the highly transmissible mccomb variance as false aligns to cancel, mold and full 1000 flights worldwide in the us sick and isolating airline employees . i causing severe staff shortages. gabriel alexander, repulsed on from new a camp out in new jersey. the surge of the army kron variant and not only affecting people on the ground, but also those trying to get in the air to visit loved ones for the christmas holiday. hundreds of flight cancellations in united states united in delta, 2 of the largest carriers accounting for the most united sending out these alerts

to passengers. your flight is cancelled due to an increase in coven cases, limiting cru availability. we have a really concern last night when i saw on the news that they had cancelled a 100 white that i'm like, oh my god, we won't be able to get home. but luckily we kept checking the white bed a 2nd. the fight that has got here and everything was fine that we were really grateful for that. had new jersey. newark liberty, airport passengers. mostly we're trying remain calm. i'm a little bit worried about cancellation. so ha, we see what happens. oh, my foreign cancer. i got the, the, you know, all the vaccines, 3 of omega. i got a mass, doesn't worry about, we're ready to go. it all good. well, ami kron is surging. so to is holiday travel. officials say more than 2000000 people passed through airport security screening in one day. more than pre pandemic holiday travel with 2019 airport workers. say they are feeling it does not start

work. other jobs i, we get. we get along. great. it is nonstop. were non stop holiday season. yes, i was, it is crazy. i and i know when what was like this. aside from the check encounters, the longest lines at newark airport, where the covey testing facility and airlines in the us are already starting to cancel more flights for the days. ahead and with the army kron variance and not expected to peak for at least another couple weeks. it likely will mean more canceled flights, especially if the flight attendants and pilots who operate them continue to get infected. gabriel's hondo. how does it new work? who jersey? jo lita is the ceo of the airline passenger experience association. now he says the surgeon cases has caught companies by surprise. 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. really consolidating places as much as possible to make sure the people make it 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 it will be terminated to get home in time for christmas, but it's sometimes taking in additional stop or a re routing to accommodate. i think that the airlines and 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 in normal for flight groups to get them as additional workers, while their colleague are backed by the new varian. but you can't really anticipate this type of search so rapidly. i think that would surprise some of our airlines and they've been a bit of

a job of as possible under the circumstances and making sure that they can get people progress the u. k. guzman tools and millions of text messages urging people to get their boost to jobs. it's the latest attempt to combat the rapid spread of amok problems therein. more than 32000000, booster doses have already been admitted, been administered upon me across the country, or challenge as well. you might get excited that how did you know 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 being given to people who slipped between the cracks. i'm now that i'm not portsmouth. i'm not fascinated, and we need to get the town vaccination able to go. i'm a come get that for every normally is that particularly the homeless, the very vulnerable at this time of year. how they sleep rough, and they definitely need to be protected from some high despite christmas day, the 25th and boxing day, the 26th being holidays jobs are still being given. this just this sort of public

service that boris johnson, frank's health workers and care is for and his christmas message. all those in the, in a chess we're, he over christmas are care workers. everyone involved in the incredible vaccination campaign. those looking after people who have lost loved ones this year, that who would otherwise be on their end, 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 and that after all is the teaching of jesus christ, whose birth is at the heart of this enormous festival, ah, across europe, on a crown 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 looked down is still something of an outlier, non essential shops, restaurants, hair, dresses, gyms, museums, and other public places a close until at least the middle of january, another christmas. and the shadow of cove in 19 rory challenz al jazeera, the philippines of shut its borders to foreign taurus during the holiday period. and while citizens can enter the country and stricter rules and longer, quarantines have made it impossible for any migrant workers to go home for the holidays. barnaby lo hospital from manila. after having to suffer one of the world's longest and most restrictive blocked downs, filipinos are out in a belt. daily corbet 19 cases are down to hundreds, from a peak of 20000 a day during the delta wave of infections, most restrictions have now been lifted. but the country's main airport remains only

half as busy as it was before the pandemic. the threat that the army chron variant has halted the government's plans to re open borders. the 1st way by which the 1st strategy with employ to delay the entry of the on the crown variant is to ban the entry of travelers from countries that have the community transmission of the virus variant migrant philippine workers are exempted from the ban. but that doesn't mean they can travel without difficulty. there are around $10000000.00 filipinos working overseas each year. many of them look forward to coming home during the holiday season. but the emergence of the american varian has disrupted international travel . john, good saga, who works as a nurse in the u. k. has not been back in the philippines for 2 years. he had hoped to be able to fly home his christmas, but the you case armor can search has made that impossible because of the new larry

and of a micron and a number of cases that had been increasing. now one thing back, actually the old quote, because we have been the 1st we, i think a pretty soon there, there will be, they will announce that and we're going to be on that down because on the neighboring countries are on that already. and it's not just leaving that's difficult. john says he has friends who are having a hard time getting back to the u. k. in manila at the moment, but i'm hours. they just told me that they won't be able to to come back here. because of the child's restrictions, despite travel constraints, however, the philippines health department has detected the armored chron variant in 3 international travelers. there's a fear it will quickly spread, but the government says the situation is under control. barnaby low al jazeera manila. at least 30 migrants have drowned out of their boat, capsized off greece in the gnc. it's the 3rd disaster and as many days bringing the

combined death told to $27.00 smugglers are increasingly using the dangerous route from turkey to italy to enter europe. now there are avoiding the g and islands that are heavily patrolled the gabby as truth and reconciliation commission has called for formal present yasamin to face trial for human rights abuses. it's based its investigation on hundreds of testimonies, funding decades of violence. alexander lurch reports a 3 year long investigation in the gambia has recommended former president. ja john may be put on trial for murder, torture and sexual violence. yeah, johnny, this responsibility for the kid in both my more money and moment to me where the former president sees power in 1994 and for 22 years over. so i regime that has been accused of committing hundreds of human rights abuses in 2017. john may was

forced into exile, inequitable guinea after losing an election to adama barrow under president barrow the gambia as government set up the truth reconciliation and restorations commissioned to prob allegations of jammy abuses the panel heard from hundreds of witnesses who offer testimony about alleged human rights violations. their stories were broadcast on radio and tv for the country to hear. the government now has 6 months to decide it's next step. we are hoping that got me to give me a commitment, a commitment to implement the recommendations of becoming only been mixed up. she and as i head right now, there are common dis, i'm supposed to sound, but of course the i just got this on the chinese have not just have been profile again, anyone sort of, i guess on that. but i guess many at home and abroad hope to see the former president on trial though he remains in exile. but gambia weren't the sole targets

of the re jim j. yeah, jim is victims include over $44.00 gun eons who are massacre. they include nigerians include senegalese, and the thinking is that if all these countries got together and help gambia to create a court, it would also provide the political impetus for equitorial guinea where j jam is loading on the commission is intended to promote healing and reconciliation for victims and survivors, but y'all may still retains considerable support in the country. the possibility of his return from exile was a key election issue. earlier this month. on the rock concerns, his political supporters could hamper efforts to put the former leader and his associates on trial. jeremy has yet to reply to the commissions findings in the

past. he's promised to return to the gambia, but he's been barely seen in the years since his exile. the report may make him question whether he would even want to. alexander lurch al jazeera still had hail on al jazeera is columbia criminalizing descent human rights groups raised concerns as a controversial security bill passes through congress. ah, praying for a better year ahead as co, good 19 dumplings, christmas celebrations around the world. ah, we have had days of rain across iberia. hello everyone and we've got more rounds to come. so here we are on saturday, particularly heavy. let me press place who it happens on sunday. yep. you guessed

it. another wave moves in this is concerning because it's falling in northern spain were earlier this month we had been dealing with some flooding. so we'll keep tabs on the situation. they're a batch of rain falling across a republic of ireland. we'll see those winds pick up as well. and also some rain for the south west of england. temperatures have fallen across central parts of europe and we've got a rain snow line. we'll call it prague to be an, as a south of that. that's where the rains falling and we've got snow for the check republic into slovakia. concentrated rain for croatia into bosnia could see winds here of up to 70 kilometers per hour and wet weather for the top end of italy, off to istanbul right now. temperatures are on the rise in turkey, actually, all of that rain and snow has made a clean sweep of the country on cra, looking good. with the high of 6 off to africa. windsor dragon down temperatures in cairo as one and heart 2 at 29 degrees, but toward the west. lot of unsettled weather, lot of rain coming your way. fort rabbits and mar cash at 18 degrees, but give it

a few days. temperatures will rise and back into the sun. that's it, sir. ah, from the world's most populated region. in den and untold stories across asia and the pacific. to discover the current events with diverse coaches and conflicting politics. one 0, one east. on al jazeera lou,

the me look back here watching out there with me to run the reminder of all top stories. more than 4000 flights have been cancelled worldwide increases travel plans of decalle. behind the transmissible american barrier of corona virus affected flight crews of major airlines. at least 13 people have drowned off a boat carry migrant cut sized off the greek coast and such disaster in greek water many days bringing the combined desktop to 27 the ga b as truth and reconciliation commission has recommended on the present time trial for murder torture and rape. german fled in exile in 2017 after review to accept defeat. and the presidential election. neurons top military commander says military drills conducted this week by to ron, what intended to send a warning to israel. general mohammed burgundy says 16 ballistic missiles of

different classes for 5 in the gulf around conducted the drills of it concerns the possible plans by israel to attack its nuclear side. state media in saudi arabia. as 2 people have been killed in cross border attacks in the province of jazz on explaining who the rebels for launching a projectile on thursday, the saudi led coalition fighting evans that it targeted 9 locations. what rebels are storing weapons in the capital financial duties have repeatedly launch drones and beside tax into saudi arabia. since the conflict began in 2015, lebanon's president michelle are in says his country needs 6 to 7 years to emerge from economic crisis. because he has lost up to 90 percent of sally's in 2019 and millions of people now live in poverty. un secretary general antennae. terrorist visited lebanon earlier this month and said the world is not doing enough to help the country avoid economic collapse rights groups. they columbia,

as controversial security though, violates human rights, a 10 protest as into criminals. the bill was approved by congress this weekend is expected to be signed off by president even decay, but the opposition says i'll challenge it all the way to the constitutional court. sandra petty reports now from the capital bucket all in a last minute special session. columbus conservative majority congress passed a new controversial security law that the opposition says violates human rights. this is what those are. see. the bill is the government response to a wave of crime that followed the pandemic locked downs. the critics believe that while the claims to guarantee citizen security with penalties, it also violates the constitution dangerously expanding. self defense laws among other provisions. why get it? but a foreigner where i said it was a matter my this bill allows private citizens to use weapon on the property. let's

say if peasant farmers invade the land of a big landowner, it can shoot and killed them and take justice in their own hands. it will bring new violations of human rights in a country that already has a terrible record in that regard. the law increases penalties for damaging public infrastructure or when protesters where a mask. and it comes as the government is under pressure for the police response to the economic and social protests, the rock, the country in 2019. and again, this year. everything un reports documents, various instances of unnecessary in disproportionate use of force by police officers that lead to does instead and criticize arms to video shooting at them. traders. but the country's defense minister who control is the police, said the law does not legalize these actions. then what i was got into this law does not violate peaceful protests in any way, but when crimes are committed to show the police and the justice system that they

can bring those responsible to justice. this law responds to people's needs for security and protection. well, some mayors apply the elements of the bills, especially the tougher penalties. critics say they will challenge the law in the countries constitutional court and will then now that internationally of the cute, the experts have already. but it says the court will likely reject the most liberal articles of the bill is when a handful of people, it's a typical example of punitive populace. people want to see those who commit a crime rotten jail. and you can understand that from the victims perspective, look way, but the rule of law regulates things in a different way when we can't forego people have constitutional rights. columbia have been hoping for an improvement in security. and at the same time, or you mean police for a long time, the government says this new law will do that, reducing crime across the board. but many are asking if it indeed will. and at what

cost i listen to the, i'll just deal with that. and the full p lindsey bob, we have been killed out of us, collided with a fuel tanker and burst into flames. the crash happened on a busy road connecting the eastern city of more thought to the capital. had ave witnesses reported? some people escaped before the explosion. the un secretary general has urged both sides in ethiopia to growing conflict to embrace the opportunity for lasting ceasefire. that's after the european governments that it would not chase rebels retreating into the gray region. early this week to live fighters withdrew from the neighboring a foreign potter regions. the conflict started in november last year. i russian court has fined 2 of the world's biggest tech companies to failing to delete content the government teams illegal. google has been fined nearly $100000000.00 a matter just over $27000000.00 human rights groups. they boscoe is threatening freedom of speech on the internet. communities in northern bug,

a song say melting. lacy is putting their homes and livelihoods endanger. the country has more than 7000 glades is more than any way in the world except the polar regions. the climate change means some are disappearing fast. in part 2 of our special series on buckets on the water challenges a solid binge of air reports from show near the himalaya mountains. living 2500 meters above sea level. there are no grocery stores nearby, presented as day begins with getting milk for her family. she lived in the idyllic pass through village with legal issues meet in northern parts of firm, but under the 3 come, isn't ever present dangerous because those glaciers and melting and a different rates because of land erosion and floods are house is not only 12 meters away from a river bank for the family lived in constant fear, not knowing where the another flood will sweep it all away. is that john said that

this used to be our agricultural 9. when i was a child, we had fruit orchards and feel after massive glacial outflows became more frequent, it's all become part of the river. the whole area in the summer is the merged. we faced constant danger. our village has lost cattle and lots of agricultural land and this area has become more dangerous. 7000000 people at risk from glacial league outburst floods or gloves as they locally known. out of the 3000 or more glacial lakes in northern pakistan. the united nations development program says $33.00 dangerous prescript, any more than $600.00 acres of arable land. when lost to the river. many people living in the past who are angry at the government for not doing enough. they say they talk about warning systems and protection was never going to action a couple of things and it's working with international partners, invest 40000000 dollars into saving lives and property. these ratios don't just

affect the 7000000 people affect the 30000000 people who live in parker fund. we have a project which is looking at setting up early warning systems so that we can at least get, you know, humans out of harm's way. but the challenge is the infrastructure. the infrastructure gets damaged. 70 percent of the damage caused by these racial birth is on infrastructure. and that creates and creates an economic cost for august on scientists. so assessing glacial fluctuations to understand the complex interactions involved in climate and glacier response for its far reaching impact on global weather. focus on $7000.00 plus known glaciers make it home to more glacial life than anywhere on earth outside the polar regions. and within the himalayan region, i'll find glaciers as sensitive to climatic changes due to their very will out that you and debris covering the ice on the foothills of the himalayan mountain range that is erotic whether excessive rains cause flood. and a lack of rain means that waterways and spring such as this have dried up and

there's very little snow on the mountain tops and that, but most of the population that risk is more than 80 percent of focus on fresh water comes from glaciers. this is a huge challenge for august, and it's not on making started because the biggest on the missions because of what is happening around the world on climate change. and we are getting affected by this an average country store about 40 percent of the water. but in pug fun, the figure is 9 percent and the rest goes to the sea. and environmentalists say, unless water consumption is reduced in farming and in urban areas, the precious resource will become increasingly scarce. as the planet forms from jared under the ocean, near him, 1000000 mountains system. and then part 3 of all series. a sama takes us to correspond in southern bucket, where a decline in yearly rainfall has devastated the regions water supply. it was not

report from o 2 g m t on sunday francis as of the world to look beyond lights and decorations and remember the poor. during the festive season, the head of the roman catholic church said serving others is more important than seeking status or success. it was the 2nd time christmas eve mass has been held at saint peter's the silica and the vatican. to the panoramic began the number of people attending the event decreased from last year, despite rise uncovered 900 cases in the city. and it's really, it's an honor to get to see this during such a big holiday like this of the, the center of christianity and the biggest hall day of the year. so i think i'm luck and get to get to see this. and especially during covert, you know, so, yeah i, i'm very, very honored to be here and i love it. very beautiful, very, i'm a little, not a we hope to return to what we call no mallets here because this is not a life we can call normally by the standards we are just to that. so 2022 will free

us city. i'm ok. i don't have a fair about colby's because he's our life. we are john. so we need to, we need to to do something different. because if you are, we need to live, we need to live. that's right. christians in iraq has attended a christmas service. after the eating of some cro virus restrictions in bagdad, some worshippers said they felt relieved to attend the charisma. said he was blocked on during christmas last year. hundreds of people have attended midnight mass in bethlehem in the occupied westbank, smaller than usual crowds gathered for the festivities as the biblical biblical birthplace of jesus christ. christmas in bethlehem is easy. the busiest tourist season and the sheer israel band, almost all international travel, including to the occupied palestinian territory. not the largest and most powerful telescope ever build his g to go into space in a few hours time. scientists hope the james web telescope will help us better

understand stars and galaxies that are 13000000000 years old. and we're a palo has more from the launch site into co room in french, diana. 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 the new discoveries could up and everything we know about our place in the cosmos. we're really trying to look further back in time and, you know, examine how some of those 1st galaxies formed. we're,

we're trying to rewrite some of the astronomy bugs that exist right now at the space museum in the city of crew. a new generation of astronomers anxiously await lift off 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 the easy . i think i marcellus hunting. i've been studying astronomy for 10 years and 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 a top of that area and 5 rock it is housing, the james web space telescope. and those rocket boosters that you see on the side

of the spacecraft had been filled with some 480 metric tons of solid fuel propel it . just enough to blast off and send this payload some one and a half 1000000 miles away from her with the rock it 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. manuel rap, hello al jazeera crew, french kiana. ah, the, what your desert me seal rama. reminder of our top story is more than 4000 flights . have been cancelled worldwide. so in christmas travel plans to chaos. the highly transmissible on a chromebook.