ben opportunity oh, j. select on al jazeera. ah, ah. fighting between me and mars military and the ethnic armed groups intensifies thousands flee across the border into thailand. ah, hello barbara, sarah, are you watching? al 0 life from london also coming up talks resume in vienna to revive the iran nuclear deal. negotiators are told, difficult decisions will need to be made. pensions run high in some are the after the president removes the prime minister from office rising cove. it cases and the

population that is barely vaccinated democratic republic of congo is health system is again under threat. ah, we begin in me and mar, were the military offensive against ethnic. karen armed groups is intensifying and civilians are increasingly caught in the crossfire for years. these groups are fought for self determination, and since the military took control in a cool early this year, the groups have joined forces united against the common enemy. in the past few days, the military campaign has gathered pace, and the government has been accused of committing atrocities against civilians and as the casualties mount more and more people are seeking refuge in thailand. while the qur'an people live mainly in k in state and southeastern, near mar, heavy fighting has been reported around the town of maya wadi, about 5000 people have now fled across the river into my sot in thailand. from

where tony cheng sent us this report. ah small arms, an automatic gunfire echo crossed the banks of the more river can side me a month. a plume of dark smoke rising after an artillery strike. a few 100 meters away on the tie side. a makeshift shelter for refugees who flowed across the river . for the moment, they don't want to move too far away so they can monitor what's happening in their homes. they can also hear the ferocity of the fighting. so it's obviously, the more the situation is very bad. they're using helicopters to drop bombs and all had to run to survive the children and adults to get to the site. maybe it's not safe to go home because they are plains or have to thing. we don't feel it's safe to go back. the border police and thailand say the fighting, broke out at dawn as it has done to the last 2 days. now,

the time military have returned fire on a number of occasions. just warning shots they say, some munitions have fallen on the ty side. this farmer, pointing out damage from shrapnel of the several motors fell in his fields. those wounded in the crossfire have come across to thailand, treatment as have thousands of refugees, a number that's growing every day. in common in the last 2 or 3 days, there have been serious clashes with plains attacking villages. and there been several wounded people crossing over the border to get treatment. but thailand is not keen to encourage people to cross. this is one of the places where people have been coming across, but the tie army have put res, was all across the top of the bank of the river. for the moment, they're pretty happy to stay over there. ready to come across the border. the fighting gets any closer. children play on the river bank as the evening sets in. but the battle is that a raging along the river between yemen military and armed qur'an groups,

shows no sign of letting up or letting them return home. tony chang al jazeera on the time, me on the border. the chain of events which led to this latest escalation began in february just a few months after on sunset cheese, national league of for democracy, sweat to power. the military took control and detained sushi, as well as members of our government within days, protest her as it were on the streets, demanding her release, and of return to civilian rule. a campaign of civil disobedience began, which triggered a deadly crack down by security forces. in march, the un security council called for a reversal of the military coup condemning the military's violence against peaceful protests. 5 months later, a military leader general mean hung lying declared himself prime minister, promising elections by 2023. and this month on san sushi was found guilty of inciting descent and breaking coven rules. she was sentenced to 4 years in jail,

which was then cut to 2. she is the waiting on a verdict on the other charges. what a man, whose is the un special repertoire on human rights in me and my he told me a little earlier about the latest developments and how they are of great concern. we know that the fighting is, is increasing. when are the tensions have increased? and we know that attacks against entire villages have also increased shoulder, the number of innocent men, women, and children that are tracing a catastrophe, of course, increases almost exponentially. which of course is, is exactly what we're, what we're fearing. if it's there on the type order, but it's also in other areas of the, of the country as the military tries to seek out villages where that they believe are harboring opponents armed opponents and their punishing all these villages because they believe they are the enemy. ah,

the ran nuclear talks of resumed in vienna after a 10 day pause european union deputy secretary general and talks coordinator and re camara says hard work in the days and weeks ahead should lead to a positive result. he wouldn't speculate on target dates for an agreement, but suggests that he could take weeks rather than months. well, this is the 8th round of talks designed to resurrect the 2015 nuclear deal known as the joint comprehensive plan of action. the accord began to disintegrate in 2018 when the u. s. withdrew and began imposing sanctions on iran. iran says the discussions need to focus on the lifting of sanctions, including the ability to easily export its oil and on guarantees that the us will return to the fold. the u. s. than go seizure. it says that there are only weeks left to revive the agreement. if iran continues its current pace of nuclear activities, but the coordinator of the talks thinks that actually,

that is possible. we have comb. elaine little ways is the beginning of the negotiation. now we have incorporated this is digital of a new radium government. so from the point of view of the coordinator, we are accepting the point where we should be, if we want to get the final and successful result, it will work out the days and weeks ahead. we should have a positive result, because again, we're certainly, we're in the mind of the coordinator. we should be good to sit 6. as a result, it's going to be very difficult still to be very difficult political dishes to be taking both and her own. and it wasn't, but again, this is what this negotiation is about. tor such a barry has more now from vienna. they one of the 8th rounds of the nuclear negotiations between iran and the p 4 plus one that's friends, u. k. germany,

russia and china, and indirectly the united states have wrapped up here in vienna. all parties are optimistic on this 1st day that this rounds will move forward much quicker than the previous ones, because there seems to be a general consensus about what needs to be discussed. moving forward, these talks will go on until friday, where there will be a 3 day break for the new year, and they will resume next monday and they will keep going until there is some kind of a resolution. the russians ambassador has said that he's hopeful this could be possibly the final round of the negotiations. and of course, we are here because the united states left a deal in 2018 and impose a series of crippling sanctions on iraq or the banking sector. the radian foreign minister and tear on monday said that that is the 1st thing they really want to see remedy. they want to see those sanction lifted so they can sell their oil on the international market yet again and be paid for it. the process of the way these are looking for to is very specific. and i asked that question to the lead the chief

negotiator here in vienna, from the iranians, the deputy for mister alibaba, connie, and this was his response. very much in my opinion, it's been a good beginning all sides emphasize the importance of lifting sanctions and the issue of verification and guarantee should be on the agenda. so if i saw this, it was a great the 1st issue this going to be on the agenda in this round is the issue of guarantees and verification. and then the working groups will continue their work in the area of lifting sanctions in the banking and financial sector. so that is the position by the iranian center. the deputy for mr. also said that the res wouldn't be in vienna if they weren't optimistic that these talks will get somewhere and that they, j. c. p. it could be salvage, that this point, the americans are much more pessimistic at this stage because they say that what the ratings are asking for is very difficult to guarantee on their parts. but for

now, all parties are optimistic moving forward and into a new year that there could be some kind of resolution in the 8th, 8th round of the talks, which could hopefully be the final round. iraq supreme court has ratified october's parliamentary election results. demonstrators flash security forces me the court, which earlier rejected an appeal to overturn the result. they supported rain in bacteria group which suffered heavy loss of both and the ledge irregularities, shia cleric. most of that is the election biggest winner. he's block secure, 73 seats out of 329 buffalo. the way he does want to from back that about why protests are upset about the results. following the endorsement of iraq's parliamentary elections results these up protesters, supporters of the political parties that last many seats in the election, se they will continue protesting here, occupying areas,

need about that heavily fortified greens own until their demands are met. they say that the supreme court has admitted that there have been mistakes that have been irregularities in the electoral process that could have led to vote frigging. and they say that they belong to an umbrella of our political blocks and political parties. and then they go by their decisions. on the other hand, there have been talks between rival political parties, other than the legal path. there have been negotiations to reach a consensus in regard to forming the, the upcoming parliament and the upcoming government. according to iraq's constitution, the 1st parliamentary session should be convened. ah, within 15 days, from the day the supreme court induces the parliamentary elections. razzles

that have been talks between the rival factions that have been of negotiations to reach a consensus on are the prime minister, the new prime minister on naming the new speaker of the parliament. if they reach a consensus on that. then these protested as may leave. this area, if not, then escalation might happen. somali as political crisis has deepened with the country's prime minister, accusing the president of an attempted coup. both men have been blaming each other for delays and national elections move as intensify the months long constitutional crisis. and now raised the fears of violence, bernard smith, as more somali, as president says, the prime minister is suspected of corruption and is now suspend mohammed of july.

mohammed accuses mohammed robel of stealing land, owned by the army. the prime minister says the move in direct to washing kazama. yet, i would like to clarify to the somali people that the government in the transition of faith is responsible for leading the country and running the affairs of various state institutions to the armed forces should take orders from the government and the prime minister's office to anyone who disagrees for dis, we'll have to present it to did your dish area that going to do. and it's the latest round in a long running dispute between the 2 leaders. the 1st class in april, when the president, unilaterally extended his 4 year term by 2 years that prompted army factions loyal to each man to seize rival positions. in margaret issue. the president constitutional mandate expired in february and he stayed on and tried a very similar power grabbed in april this year,

which led to fighting in the streets of mogadishu and, and would have it probably concluded in his overthrow, if a deal hadn't been negotiated to produce elections for parliament and president. by the end of this year, the u. s. embassy in somalia has urged de escalation from both sides. bernard smith al jazeera. this is al jazeera still ahead. south africa begins a week of national warning to mark the death of anti apartheid leader. archbishop desmond tutu loss aren't really val in rural texas, which suddenly finds itself as one of the top bitcoin destinations in the world. but why all of our minors heading here? find out more ah

hello there, let's have a look at the weather in australia, and you can see from the satellite image that dense cloud lingering over the top and now that's being heavy. rain and thunderstorms to northern areas. by the time we get to wednesday, we're gonna see a lot of that wet and windy weather sweeping to northern areas of queensland. we could see up to 250 millimeters of rainfall in places. of course that brings a flood risk and that wet weather leads into storms and showers across western areas. we're going to have on and off rain for sidney through to the weekend. the temperature is expected to dip down here. but in places like adelaide and melbourne in the southeast, we are seeing warmer weather. come into play, we've got high pressure in charge here. and of course for the west, it remains very hot and sunny heat wave conditions continuing in per but the temperature will dip down by, by the time we head to the weekend, you'll be touching into 30 with lots of sunshine and settled weather. now it's gonna be more settled across new zealand from wednesday. but on tuesday we've got

rounds of rain rolling up from the south island to the north, getting pretty heavy near gibbon. but by the time we get to wednesday, it will be some spells of sunshine showers. expected the temperature in christ church sitting at 18 degrees is looking more settled up in the north. ah. the step beyond the comfort zone were assumptions or challenge. travel to the ends of the earth and further experience the unimaginable of the people who live it is probably the most extreme situation i've been involved in how quickly things contract award winning documentary use, but also a perception witness on a just the euro. lou

ah, a reminder now of the top stories on al jazeera fighting between me and mars military and desperate concurrent on the groups as continued close to the tie border around $5000.00 people had fled across the border. the man, coordinating the nuclear talks between world powers and iran says that he remains hopeful for a positive result within weeks. the 8 front of talks resumed earlier in viet and demonstrators clashed with security forces after iraq supreme court ratified. october election results iranian back to groups and lead you regularities, after suffering had the south africa has begun a week of national morning following the death of anti

a party leader and nobel peace prize. laureate archbishop desmond tutu, president cedar rum oppose. there has been among those leading attributes for me. the miller reports from cape town, the bells ring out at saint george's cathedral, to honor the archbishop, ameritas desmond tutu. mourners come and go at what is known as the people's church . paying tribute to a man recognised as cape tells greatest residents receive to do was never afraid to open his mouth and fight the evil of a part that was within the life he lived in the legacy you live because of the foundation that he built, that someone like me can, 2nd is the council now representing the peace of the great city and country, regardless of my race of my religion. it's at this church during a party to to became the city's 1st black archbishop. it's from these steps the nobel prize winner preached against the tyranny of white minority during part 8.

and it's here were to, to the funeral, will be held on new year's day at his home government officials, friends and family pay their respects amongst them president silver. i'm opposed, so as we say in african parliament, a huge tree has fallen and it is a tree under which we as african children of this great country thought africa found refuge found shade found protection. and this tree has now fallen. we may well. 7 love to travel line states at the cathedral on friday. but colbert 19 regulations mean many of those who loved archbishop to to won't be able to put him farewell. instead, they've been urged to visit local parishes to honor the archbishop memorial services will be held in south africa this week,

including an interface service for the archbishop, who was to many a unifying figure to, to transcend the race and religion, and was often celebrated for including all self africans in his struggle for social justice, while devoted to the church to, to will not only be remembered as a religious leader, but an icon whose appeal brought and often divided south africa together for liter . mila al jazeera cape town. the u. s. president has admitted his government has more work to do on testing, but stopped short of announcing additional cove at measures. joe biden, how the virtual meeting was state governors to discuss the rapid increase in virus cases. more than a $100000.00 reported each day on average across the u. s. kimberly how kit reports from the white house. in the us cases of coven caused by the i'm a crime very and are soaring. i'd expected to get worse in the coming weeks.

the stream is being felton hospitals. new records are being fat with daily infections rising past last winter's pandemic peak in northeast states like delaware new jersey, new york, and massachusetts. but also hawaii and puerto rico. there is no federal solution. this gets solved, state level on speaking to the nation's governors in a virtual meeting on monday. us president joe biden admitted white house efforts to combat the highly contagious. i'm a crime very. it have been insufficient, but it's not enough. it's clearly not enough required. we know we would have gone harder quicker if we could have but new reporting indicates the biden administration was pushed to ramp up, testing as far back as october in anticipation of a holiday covered surgery, but declined. biden denies the report. we did reject it. still

biden announced a half 1000000000 at home. rapid test would be distributed to americans, free of charge. the tests won't be available until january, too late for those wanting to test before holiday gatherings. but we have to do more. we have to do better and we will local mayors and governors are waiting. in some states, the national guard has been called in to support hospitals in washington, dc, the mayor called for volunteers to assemble rapid test kits. hundreds lined up for hours at libraries to receive one lines that airports are even worse. hundreds of flights have been canceled. airlines are struggling to maintain staff, as workers are getting sick or having to quarantine. that's why travel groups are requesting public health officials reduce the recommended 10 day quarantine period to allow expose workers back to their jobs after just 5 days with the negative test

. it's a plan president biden says he'll follow if public health officials recommend it. kimberly hell can al jazeera, the white house. well, that's the latest from the us. meanwhile, africa is the least vaccinated continent in the world and the human toll has been significantly less there than elsewhere. but now is the omicron very and spreads 21 countries are experiencing a 4th wave, and some, a 5th africa population is about 1400000000, almost twice the number of people as europe. if the african center for disease control and prevention says that up to december 23rd, there had only been 9300000 cases. that's a similar number to that of france. the continent as recorded about 2000 a, sorry, 230000 deaths. about the same number as that of spain and the greatest proportion of the continents death about 90000 of them. where in south africa alone,

on theory for a lower african toll is age 94 percent of the population is under 60 and there is a median age of just 20, meaning the overwhelming majority is at low risk of severe disease. also 50 percent of people in sub saharan africa live in rural locations with warmer climates and the tendency to mix out doors as possibly contributed to a lower risk of infection, but access to test things limited. and earlier this year, the world health organization estimated that 6 out of 70 infections were undetected, or the democratic republic of congo is the least vaccinated country, not just in africa, but in the world. now, a surgeon corona virus cases as adding pressure to the country's fragile health system. kathy lopez, how the young has more. this coven 19 clinic is at full capacity. patients are coming in faster than they can be treated as infection surge in democratic

republic of congo. both supplies and staff are running low. the hopefully we've asked our partners to our tense behind the center to take in the overflow of sick people. we can't let them die. we have 2 types of patients. those who accept treatment and then we have those who don't believe in the disease. we've had people who refused to stay in hospital, but eventually they are brought back to us as corpses. the country has the lowest vaccination rate in the world with a population of 90000000 fewer than 300000 people have received one dose. mistrust of inoculations is widespread. ah, before we were in the dark about the consequences of this 4th wife. but it's coming strong. kobinie attain is real, and we need to protect ourselves. the increased reflects the surgeon cases across africa. the d r. c recorded nearly 6 and a half 1000 infections and mid december. more than double is previous record 6

months before. with about a 1000 registered cove at 19 deaths, the d r. c has a low death tall. but how the visuals fear a low vaccination rate could lead to new variance or regular got young is 4th, co it 19 wave. we have had more cases. some are starting to understand that the vaccine is the best way they can protect themselves. as the 4th wave spreads, health officials are also concerned that more infections could further de stabilized the countries fragile health system. katya little missile, the young al jazeera, syria, is condemning an israeli government decision to double the number of jewish settlers in the occupied golden heights. the $300000000.00 plan for new settlements was endorsed during a cabinet meeting on sunday. golden is a territory captured by israel from syria and was annexed in 1981. a move not recognized by most of the international who bitcoin is giving

a former aluminum town in rural texas and new industry. crypto miners from all of the world are pouring into the city of rockdale and offering millions for a spot to dig their has fin lavelle now reports rockdale, texas, is coining it in bit coining it in. just listen to this. it is the sound of making money, the us now the destination for bitcoin miners and rural texas, reaping it here. we're hiring 400 more. people like a fast. we can hire mind springing up everywhere. solving complex algorithms 247 to release bitcoin. it takes the equivalent of 30 years, average household energy to mind a single one, but they made about $460.00 bit anything in a month. right, winston is enormous. a 100 acres 800000 machines and growing. we provide the opportunity to freight long lasting job and create

a new market for people that never thought they be working in this particular industry. but my question is, why rockdale? and here is your answer power loads of it be say, this place used to have the largest alum in your plant in the world, but that closed down years ago and left behind all of this extra energy capacity. now this is perfect for bitcoin because it needs a huge amount of energy to my in on mass. on top of that power is relatively cheap here in texas. plus, there are a huge number of big coin miners who have been forced to find a new home recently. because china found crypto mining earlier this year, i immediately decided to go to other countries leaving thousands of bitcoin. companies like pooling to get out quickly. so they went west, they're building here because avenue the reckless market. you can consume also, so electricity as you want, just connected to the great. so it's lisa totally open free market. criptos like

cotton. they have to politicians, hep senator, ted cruz, governor, greg abbott. can't get enough of it, but even they can't control the weather. massive storms in february let a huge outages, millions when weeks without power. the grid here is creaking already. that's a lot of heat that we have to get of these buildings that these servers are located in. so there's a large air conditioning load that is also associated with the mining process. and it's getting busy. texas is bit coiling mining alone on cost to use twice the yearly power of the entire city of austin soon globally, crypto hunting using more energy than all of our gen, tina. we're at this point in life where there's a lot of criticism of our energy. you think this isn't low energy, we're also the ones that are using power in the middle. the night when people have turned their power off, the generators remain more profitable. allow them to keep running. so that when you're home or your business or the hospital needs a different power, it's already there, rockdale, this is a success story. even the mer mining crypto at home has he takes bids on space. i

had one last week. i've got a $100000000.00 guided gum in a start and at that are money to build with where industry left bitcoin to write the lonestar state, a big star for crypto minus fil lavelle. al jazeera rockdale, texas. ah, now the top stories on al jazeera fighting between me and my military and ethnic karen armed groups has continued close to the thai border around 5000 people if cross from the inara across river sh. but tie, authorities have put barbed wire on the bank in order to deter the feelins aid chief has called them the government in me and martyr urgently investigate the reported deaths of civilians. we know that the fighting is, is increasing window detention to have increased. and we.