maintenance chime is asking me one out to 0. 0, unprompted and uninterrupted discussions from our london broadcast center on g 0. ah, this is al jazeera ah. hello, the whole robin you're watching out. is there a news our life, my headquarters here in dough hall coming up in the next 60 minutes is leading to a tsunami of cases? the world health organization is warning ac nami of covert cases will drive health systems world wide towards collapse. under the blow to immediate freedom in hong kong, as the rest of senior staff force, one of the last remaining pro democracy websites to shut down. giving shelter,

indonesia government agrees to accept dozens of wrangler migrants stranded at sea and tributes to south africa's anti apartheid hero. what a memorial service for archbishop desmond tutu and in sport. legendary american football coach and broadcast at john madden has died at the age of 85. the nfl said it would be forever indebted for all martin had done to make the league what it is today. ah, welcome to prego. unprecedented high levels of corona, virus infections are being reported in many countries. the average number of cases over the past week increased to more than 6 and a half 1000000. now the u. s. is again, worst affected, but europe parts of africa and asia are also at high levels. that is a crucial difference compared to previous peri,

to the pandemic. the number of virus related deaths as well as patients needing hospital treatment is significantly lower. we have 3 correspondences out to give us a global picture in a moment. will go to joe hall in london to discuss a series of records being broken across europe, mental republic standing by for mexico city, with a view from latin america. the 1st that's called over to mike hanner in washington, d. c. and mike, it does seem that records being broken globally at the moment of a chronic is becoming a dominant barion to the topic of all conversation at the moment. and of course, as we lead towards new year celebrations, everybody wants to travel, and that's what the president has, his focus on know where he might put restrictions in place. yes, indeed. well, president biden, in response to a question from reporters said that he may consider imposing a vaccine mandate for travel on aircraft. however,

the administration's leading health expert dr. antony found she has basically knocked that back at the moment. he says that if people are master up and with the filtration system and airplanes than a vaccine mandate may not be necessary. i talked about she doesn't rule that out. however, he does say that it is something that could be considered. but at this particular stage, he's not going to recommended to the president, president biden was waiting for a recommendation from his health experts. he said, the cobra toss forces. just finished, giving a briefing and a confirms what you've been hearing happening around the globe. a massive search and infections because of the ami cronner variant, along with the older delta type variant at the cdc confirms that over a quarter of a 1000000, the cases are being recorded every single day in the united states. the only bright point of one can put it like that is that there is a drop in the vitality rate or drop off some 7 percent according to the c, d. c,

indicating at this particular stage that the army cranberry, and may not be as serious at to the health of those who contracted. but research is still ongoing. a very little is known about the barrier to this particular stage and health experts are continuing to explore its impact. and of course, michael, what we talk about increasing infection numbers is also talk about cutting the quarantine period. and those sort of 2 issues don't seem to match yes, it does appear to be a bit ter confusing. the latest 3rd announcement by the cdc is that it is cutting the quarantine period from 10 days to 5 days. now the cdc has gotten out of its way to explain that this decision is based on science. the research gather to date, indicates that the highest rate of infection occurs within the 1st 5 days. but some are not satisfied with that particular explanation based on science, as the cdc claims are pre people like the nurses union within the united states

have been highly critical of this move as saying that it is a boeing to the will of big business. the airlines, for example, there being pressurizing the administration to reduce a quarantine rate because they are simply having trouble getting flights up in the skies with the rate of infection among pilots and cabin stop. but people like the nurses union are absolutely adamant that this decision is not taken with the health of people in mind that is taken because that is what big business once and is putting at risk. the health of those like nurses who have to deal on the forefront of dealing with the a virus my can in washington d. c. thanks very much. i. let's cross over to our london broadcast center. joan hollis standing by and jonah, really record figures for infections being recorded. not just where you are in the u. k. but in france and it's reflected really across the continent, isn't it?

absolutely. we thought here in the u. k. that a 129000 cases reported on tuesday. a record here. that was pretty extraordinary until france reported it's $290000.00 infections on wednesday. absolutely. i watering these numbers that are likely, i think in the next few days to continue to rise as we take stock continue to take stock of the christmas and new year holiday period. but in the meantime, records being broken all over europe national records. that is not just france, but italy, greece, portugal cypress molto. the list goes on. you've got the dutch of the swiss, who is saying today that all micro has now become the dominant, buried in those countries. germany says it will do in the coming days. the fins and the swedes have added to the long list of countries in posing new restrictions as the surge of alma chrome goes on. but you know, in the midst of all of that, some of the, she had numbers of people all for the sick or quarantine because mike was talking about that. the company's demanding changed. more and more countries are talking

about reducing, quarantined time. and in that as controversial as it may be for the medical health fraternity in that is a sign, i think of a real shift in thinking beginning to take hold in europe, away from the idea of locked downs and restrictions to curb the pandemic and towards vaccines. and boosters more and more iterations of boosters as needed as time goes on. boys johnson says 90 percent of i see you patients in the u. k. are either unvaccinated or haven't been boosted. and when you add that to the evidence coming out from south africa and elsewhere of a potentially less severe virus in the, on the chrome variant. and you've got well on the one hand, a reducing severity of illness on the other hand, a growing arsenal of vaccines, put them together, and you've got, well, if you can make that a global picture, at least you've got a way of beginning to live with this virus, away, in other words, out of the pandemic. general. thanks. i all the update from europe. let's cross

over to mammal propeller. he's standing by for the mexico city and manuel and basically all because obviously worry is not just several continents around the world, but latin america as well. and the america's ada as a whole. but it's been doing quite a good job in getting it's population's vaccinated, considering had such a darrel death toll during 2020 the vaccination rate certainly is a silver lining here, especially when you consider where latin america was as a whole compared to just one year ago. now there are warnings, there are concerns over what is now being seen as the coming 4th wave here in mexico and in the rest of latin america. there are almost a dozen countries where all micron has officially been been registered. but according to these figures from our world in data of south america, specifically countries in south america, the continent itself is now considered the most vaccinated in the world. when you

look at brazil, for example, where again, just a year ago was considered if not the epicenter of the world at the very least, the at the center of the pandemic for latin america, the president of the country jerbill sanara, one of the most vocal advocates against vaccination, now we have major cities in brazil likes how follow, for example, where upwards of 99 percent of the population has at least one dose. when we look at the overall trend for south america, it's 63.3 percent of the back of the population that's been vaccinated just ahead just ahead of europe. so there it is an encouraging sign. these are encouraging developments for healthy experts in the region who are also applauding this new push tube to prevent spread of our micron. there. it's being seen, for example, in mexico, in argentina, 2 countries that are working jointly to produce new doses of the astrazeneca vaccine that's being seen as a milestone in terms of vaccine accessibility. but all of this together the,

the warnings are still there. the warning that the danger of contagion is still high, especially is on the chron continues to reach new regions of the world. so, it is a sort of cautious optimism these, these, these latest developments, the fact that these vaccine efforts really are paying off. but what we're hearing from authorities, health authorities from the a world health organization from the pan american health organization is that the region is not out the woods with army crime. and the fact that there are still several countries in the region that have yet to reach 40 percent vaccination, not, not even to say the 50 percent threshold necessary to truly curb and reach cope in 1900 immunity while repulse him. mexico city, thanks so much for the update from latin america. well, kind of, i was infections in south africa that increased in the last week, but other parts of the country and things searches coupled with low vaccination res coverage. so he has more from nairobi in kenya. the pores coming out or south

africa indicates that the number of infections has drastically reduced in the last 9 days of from about 23009 days ago 215000 am on monday. that is a 40 percent drop. so this is good news, but in other countries, dozens of other countries are on the continent. is seeing an increase on positivity rate in kenya for example. we are at 34 percent, but what we are noticing in this country is, is that our people, many people are not displaying severe. a severe symptoms, severe enough to be admitted in hospitals. a lot of people who are testing positive are being told to as self isolate at home or in neighboring uganda. same case, 18 percent, positivity rate. mild mostly mild cases. are the government has again started testing or mandatory testing in border points, but the big concern now is a democratic republic of congo in its 4th wave. so what we're seeing is that our

hospitals, particularly in the capital kinshasa, are being of a want health workers are feeling the pressure and in a big concern, also, especially in this region of east africa and central africa is the rate of vaccination. kenya, for example, only has 14 percent of its population vaccinated in democratic republic of congo with 90000000 people only has about 97000 people a fully vaccinated. this is very low. so the aim here is for the government to get as many people as possible vaccinated not just to protect them, but also to protect the health care or the fragile have care systems. the director general of the world world wars ocean says he's deeply concerned about your mccrendon goal to variance of coded 19 or but the numbers are likely to rise further in the coming weeks. this virus will continue to evolve and threaten our health system. if we don't improve the collective response, right now,

delta and army kron are tween threats that are driving up cases to record numbers. which again, is leading to spikes in what's be televisions. and does, i'm highly concerned that army kron being more times miserable, circulating the same time as delta is leading to us when i me of cases. once more had hill menus are including hollow stones, prison, mahmoud abbas halls talks in israel for the 1st time in years prompting criticism from hamas. also conflicting messages out of the raw nuclear deal talks asked whether any progress is actually being made and in sport another record for one of basketballs all time. great sandy will have the story. little bit later. ah,

biddy, freedom in hong coal has been dealt another blow as please rated one of the last remaining pro democracy websites stand news says shutting down after its assets were frozen and senior staff arrested or accused of publishing articles, inciting, hatred against authorities. brit clement reports. hundreds of hong kong place rated the stan use office in the early hours of wednesday morning, using a warrant under the much criticized national security law to collect boxes of what were described as journalistic materials on classics. people linked to the independent media outlet were arrested under separate law on sedition from the british colonial era. by wednesday afternoon stand, news announced it was closing after 7 years. we are not talking to reporter, we are not talking the good of the media. we just targeted national security law. the officers among those arrested was well known singer and activist. denise, whoa,

and former politician margaret own both former stand use board members. so i know i'm to police turned up at the home of stan, use deputy, a simon editor, ronson chan. office is telling him to stop recording as they arrived. chan who was chairman of the hong kong journalists association, stood by the now disbanded news organisation buffers, amana johan and ohio stern uses, been doing professional reporting. there's no doubt about it. the whole world sees it. it doesn't matter what charges of may. nothing can change that fact, the hong kong journalist association said it was deeply concerned by the arrests and urged the government to respect the media freedoms that a meant to be safe, guarded under the cities mini constitution, the basic law, hong kong chief secretary, john lee shrugged off the criticism, saying journalism cannot be used as a tool against national security. they are the evil anemones that damage. pres, rita, china's government in beijing says the security. lauren hong kong is necessary for

stability. following political unrest and mass pro democracy protests, dozens have been arrested, prosecuted and jailed since china imposed the legislation last year, 6 months ago, the last remaining pro democracy paper apple daily was forced to shut down after its assets were frozen and its founder jimmy lie arrested the closure of the apple daily less down use is one of the last pro democracy outlets in hong kong. now there are questions over whether smaller online outlets can survive the crackdown on media freedoms. replenish al jazeera hong kong. the indonesian government is giving shelter to more than a 100 ro hanger, refugees. her stranded at sea, mostly women and children were left to drift off the coast of archery province while attempting to reach malaysia. indonesia government says refugees were facing emergency conditions. hundreds of muslim minority who fled me above have reached indonesia over the years after a perilous journey,

often lasting several months. jessica washington has more from jakarta. these people will be towed to shore and they will be allowed to disembark in indonesia. what we have heard from local sources on the ground is that the process of towing the vessel to the coastline could take around 3 to 4 hours. the vessel as it stands is around 800 nautical mile 80 kilometer, sorry, from the coast of b. it in onshore prov, outside province, and so it could take around 3 to 4 hours and that's without factoring in some of the difficult weather conditions. we understand that right now, the rock, heavy winds and heavy waves as well, which could complicate the effort to bring this vessel to shore. but what we can say with certainty is that they will be allowed to disembarked in our province after so many days of uncertainty. we heard a short while ago from a representative of the government explaining the process behind the government's thinking, but more important go nisha. or the indonesian government today has decided in the

name of humanity to accommodate growing a refugee shop. currently floating on a boat in the ocean near i checked 0. this decision was made after considering doing emergency conditions experienced quite a few gees on the ship. well, it's not altogether a surprising outcome in the past, indonesia has in fact, accepted wrangler refugees that have arrived in waters near aunt j. but it is worth noting that indonesia is not a signatory to the un convention on refugees. and so as a result is not really seen as a destination for permanent re settlement. these refugees will now join the hundreds of other refugees from many other countries. on the long wait to be re settled into a 3rd country. now huh, says denounce the meeting between the palestinian prison mahmoud abbas and the israeli defense minister benny guns. it's the 1st time of us health talks inside israel for more than a decade. guns office said

a series of confidence building measures were discussed, including the transfer of payments to the palestinian authority, while bashar is on their senior political analyst. join me now by scott, from doha. good evening, my one, mr. far bug you to see the a palestinian official spectrum earlier in the day. and i'm just paraphrasing when he said it just wasn't a good idea on several fronts for the president to meet these railways. under these conditions, does it make meeting? does it make such a meeting a consolidating the palestinian factions more difficult now in the future? yes it does. it. so it's against the basically the consensus a longer various but a soon factions that there should be some minimum requirements for such a me thing. but the head of the palestinian authority, or mr. bass, you know, is quite interested in such great things because that does please, ah,

the american president o is keen to maintain appearances that, that a scene in israel is ard meeting and are discussing various things. what is unfortunate here is not only that the israeli and palestinian have not agreed on anything. clearly they have not agreed on at what they've spoken about. because there is really ease in says that the only disgust security and some civic affairs. while the palestinians insist that they are trying to discuss political affairs for the palestinians, or the whole thing is all about diplomacy, politics, and the 2 state solution and how to get that while for these rainy's. it's a question of security. and that's why the palestinians are up in arms because they think that the entire diplomacy nowadays is focused on how the penicillin or

thought, etc, can maintain israel security. that is not or should not be there all the fallacy, no 13. it should the servicing if and a senior people, but in effect what the policy it was have been seen of how it has been doing is in fact, my dating is our security, and that's why the americans are explicitly interested that that, but a see no authority does not collapse. this is also the implicit insistence or the is raney government that the palestinian authority does not collapse because it does serve a security interest to wizard. and thus the case, they don't want the palestinian authority to collapse more one. why is benny gant's? he's the defense minutes to having this meeting with the palestinian president and not the prime minister enough tale bennett, if you want to actually secure oh, for parents to sake. as you say for the americans taught some q dos to the meeting, surely it should be the prime minister of israel. that's meeting the president of

the palestinian authority. that's a very good question and i think that goes to that just of the whole. ah, so realistic scene that we are facing now. it's just, it's just mind boggling. it's just interesting how an interesting it is. it, it, it, you know, it is important and the way it is. so an important because these really prime minister would not meet the days really that palestinian present and why? what, let's all remember that israeli prime minister as long considered days there is right the, the, the palestinian president to be a terrors. and of course, is all unfair, unjust and wrong, and, and all that sort of thing to statistical law in yo new speak. but that's what mr. bennett thinks of mr. but that he's a terrors. although it, mr. bass is probably the most moderate by the city leader in the history of palestine the last century. but once again, the americans have been putting a lot of pressure on the east radio to speak to that, but

a serious in order to maintain an appearance of some sort of a process. now, bennett refuses to meet with a better sinners. hence his coalition partner. mister ha, ganske that defense minister meets with their, with their policy president. but wanted to discuss security matters because once again, they expect the palestinians to be that got enters homeland security in the occupied at west then. so we are faced with a really so realistic a scene where by the israelis are trying to respond to the american pressure might meet. he would have had a cities but on the, on their own turf, on their own condition, which is we will only discuss security. we're not going to discuss anything that requires diplomacy, politics, or at this distance. will you well to see what the fallout is of this, if any, a toll in the coming days mom bush are always good to speak to you. thank you. not

memorial services are being held across south africa, fall anti apartheid icon. archbishop desmond, to see these alive shots of an innovative, dedicated to the nobel peace prize. laurent south africa, was observing a week of national morning full desmond to 2 who died at the age of 19 for me to mila. is live at the service in cape town for a son, and certainly for me to an evening to rejoice about the life of desmond to, to what he achieved and the legacy that he's left fit many individuals, many millions across his home country of south africa and sale despite millions of south africans feeling the loss of the archbishop desmond tutu . it is exactly that there is of a moment of celebration and are really rejoicing. the life of the archbishop in terms of his contribution to south africa is fight against a party. his leadership within the anglican church. this evening, we've heard from

a number of people including the mayor of cape town who is newly elected. and he said, didn't have the opportunity to meet the archbishop, especially considering it when the ill in recent years, in what he said, despite that he was he highly, usually influenced by the archbishop in terms of his bit values and the lessons and the messages he expressed to south africans, we also heard from sho, corrales'. she is the former south african ambassador to the united kingdom. and she records many moments during the apartheid era where she says the archbishop stuck to his principles and values despite the often violent challenges faced by activists. like the archbishop, there are some people outside the city hall where we are now, and you'll see it's lit up in purple. that attribute to the archbishop, the color purple, synonymous with archbishop desmond to the table, mountain well known around the world, similarly lit up. again. thank tribute to the archbishop to really

a celebration through the evening just ahead of the archbishop's bodies staying or laying in state in the next few days. and of course his funeral which will take place on new year's day in cape town. good to get the update for me to will are forcing take time. thank you. still had all the news, are people in the philippines pick up the pieces after the devastation of super typhoon roy? this is one of 3 nuclear plants that germany will close by the end of the year. germany will phase out nuclear power by the end of 2020 to completely disputed decision within the you. i'm stuff last reporting from confirming that it's for the refresh styles as to whether the world's number one is for i will defend, has total of australian ah

hello there. let's start in the middle east and we're seeing some unsettled weather move across some of the gulf states in the days to come bringing heavy rain to the likes of q weights could start as well as parts of saudi arabia. we could see some flooding where that rain falls more intensely towards the weekend. we've also got some snow expected in mountainous areas of iran and that where the front is going to shift for the south and east taking the west or whether it's the likes of the u . e. and oman, by the time we get to the weekend, but we've also got wet and windy weather, weather pulling across the levant, bringing some heavy rain, say egypt onwards, to israel, and the palestinian territories. by the time we get in to friday, it'll be lebanon and syria. that sees that rain and that ties up with a wet and windy weather that's been affecting north east and corner of africa. we've got some strong winds blowing across libya and into egypt. we could see more dust storms. and of course that rain is gonna work its way for the south in the

days to come. now that's in contrast, we'll all want that's in that northwest corner. there's a lot of warmth across central areas as well. the heavy rain can be found in weston, parts of that central band of africa and is more wet weather on the way for johanna's bergson. thunderstorms, rolling in by the time we get in to friday, that'll be much clearer for cape town. ah, americans are increasingly so authoritarianism might not be sober. there were several steps along the way. is a chain of command. it's you like tried to cover? what's your take on why they've gotten is so wrong. that to me is political malpractice. the bottom line on us politics and policies and the impact on the world on al jazeera polio, cuz she to says he will bring a new form of capitalism. what does this mean? we bring you the stories and developments that are rapidly changing the world. we

live in less than one percent of for vaccines have gone to poor countries. why is counting the cost on al jazeera ah, knowledge is here. when ever you oh lou. ah, look about your watch out. there was news all with me. so robin, reminder of all top stories, global credit of iris cases are the highest since the pandemic began. the number of

cases this week increased to more than 6500000 infections. bronze has broken another national and the european reco folding number of daily cove. 19 cases, the health minister says 2 people have tested positive every seconds. and the indonesian government has agreed to give shelter to more than 100 reg, ringo refugees. there was stranded at safe now the group of iceberg women and children were stranded off the coast. after attempting to reach malaysia, that to all made story a new restrictions all non essential activities have been imposed in the indian capital. new delhi, the booster vaccine doses are set to be rolled out to some early next year. family motto has more these factory workers are racing against time, trying to finish their day's work before the curve. you start, so they don't lose their wages as the vice threatened to wipe out their livelihood . once again, i believe it. i'm scared of.