all makes becomes the test bed for controlling our prices was no gold deposit. why is it one of your walks biggest exports counting the cost on al jazeera? ah no, i bet is the live pictures you looking at new year's celebrations in the shadow cove at $19.00 it's. it's hong kong ringing in 2022 o walker. one of our cases, serge globe in the south africa sees a fall in our restrictions to be east ah,

at our given al, this is al jazeera alive from door ha. also coming up thousands of people flee their homes as the most destructive wildfires in recent history. take home in the us state of colorado. and more than a 100 were hang a refugees drifting for days at sea. a toad to safety by the indonesian navy. ah, the world has started bidding farewell to 2021 and the shadow of the pandemic and a surging on the crown variant. these are lot of pictures from hong kong, which is has written, celebrating the start of the new year with a light show along its victoria harbor waterfront. already have appealed to local, not to attend new years of in the city has recorded its 1st locally transmitted cases of the only calling. very often airline work at broke hunger warranty. move

north korea has held the concert and fireworks display to celebrate the beginning of 2022. thousands attended the event of the capital, which took place is corona virus restrictions were extended in neighboring south korea. because north korea claims to be one of the world's only countries to have not reported even a single case of coven 19 coasted borders and imposed other measures to prevent an outbreak. sydney was one of the 1st to greet the new year with a pyrotechnic spectacle display included a thank you to front line workers, many of the world cities of cold off that displays to help control the spread of covered 19 times square in new york is one of the most famous spaces in the world to ring in the new year. once again, the pandemic has curtailed plans. and gabriel, alexander reports, it's hurting local businesses, trying to bounce back on a recent de jasmine's caribbean restaurant the staff were busy getting ready for what they hoped would be a bustling dinner crowd. the restaurant which opened

a year ago is in the heart of times square and christmas and new years are usually one of the busiest times of the year. but with new york, now the us epicenter of the coven outbreak owner jasmine gerard says there is a problem for all business. i mean, we are suffering at this time right now. i mean, for me, thank the lord. i was able to open up in the make and i had an opportunity to do so, but everyone is really struggling and we definitely need people to come back to new york city. last month, the by did ministration reopened us borders to vaccinated tours for non essential travel. visitors have trickled back in to new york city, particularly times square, but not nearly to the pre pandemic levels. according to local officials, about $270000.00 people walk through times square each day during the month of december. that's about $100000.00 less than before the pandemic. and about

25 percent of all the businesses in time square remain closed. many our restaurants look closely on the side streets and it's noticeably quieter. just on wednesday, more than 43000 people in new york city, tested positive for over 19. the numbers are rising so high, so fast that officials decided to scale back the famous new years. the ball drops. celebration here in time square from 70000 spectators to just 15000 and everyone will have to show proof of explanation. and we're a mass. i think more cautious. i think that at this point, you know, we're keeping an eye on the positivity rate, but it's not worrying us to a point where we're back at jasmine's. they've seen this movie before having struggled through last winter's covert wave. we were able to survive at that time

and then you know where the mouth spread. broadway opens, but now it's the sequel. and another covert surge taking it's toll on times square . and on its biggest night of the year. yeah, gabriel's audio al jazeera, new york health officials in britain have warned people about traveling to england from scotland and wales to the high number of cases. u. k prime minister boss johnson is called on the celebrating to get tested or challenge joins us now live from london. rory, just know by giving us the, the picture in the u. k. in terms of the numbers, the hospitalization, right? well, another day, another record number of new infections. the most recent data for the united kingdom shows that the new infection rate is at $189000.00. now that is twice the peak of the last wave in january. and there's no sign at the

moment that the micro wave has reached its peak. yet, the number of hospitalizations at the moment in england is 11400 and across the board in all age groups. the, there are rising levels of cases and hospitalizations except for in young children . now, it doesn't seem to be yet leading to a big spike in people in intensive care units. but it doesn't really have to, to still be a massive, massive strain on the national health service, particularly when there are huge numbers of and a staff who are themselves ill with cove at 19 or isolating at home. so yes, politicians across the united kingdom and all that, that devolve nations and parts of the u. k. a warning about that worsening situation for us. johnson, the prime minister, is once again banging that vaccine drum and asking people to go and get themselves

jobs. the people who think the disease can't hurt the look at the people going into hospital. now. that could be you look at the intensive care units and the miserable needless suffering of those who did not get that booster. that could be you. so making your new year's resolution far easier than losing weight or keeping a diary. find a walk in center or make an online appointment. get that job and do something that will make 2022, a happy new year. russel oriented thing, daughter from the u. k. healthy here, the agency saying that 3 doses, 3 vaccine doses is associated with an 81 percent reduced risk of hospitalization. when compared with similar unvaccinated people, i mean that's good use, right? but obviously with, with the sheer number of people getting infected, what is all of this mean fit for new years eve celebrations?

it depends where you are in the u. k. very all there are no big civic celebrations, not here in london. not in edinburgh, not caught if not in belfast. normally a pretty unusual year. this and franklin here in london would be starting to fill up with people now coming down. who will be here to watch queued celebrations, firework display spectacular. going off the famous london i. ferris wheel behind me would have why was going out of it at midnight. that's not happening this year. it didn't happen last year. that was, that was going to be celebration in trafalgar square. but as the only way to cold that was cancelled box elsewhere. if you're in england, at least you can still go and throw your royal party. you can go out to a restaurant, you can go to a nightclub, you can do what you want to do with century because there are no real restrictions in england, but other parts of the u. k. do you have restriction?

so scotland, wales, and northern ireland night clubs are closed, tight limits on the number of people who can gather together and celebrates. and there are a warnings for him. health officials that, that might be an influx of people from those parts. new came to england coming to party that trying to make sure that doesn't happen. and the people stay as an infection free as possible. this new year's eve sensible celebration. same by the message, i think for that really challenge lives from london. the french governments introduced new measures aimed at reducing the spread of the on the con variant residence and visit is in paris and are required to wear face masks out doors. the capitals also canceled the annual new year's eve fireworks display on the shops and easy people have been edge to avoid large gatherings, but no coffee has been imposed. latasha butler has more from paris, one of this paris market. people are busy shopping for new year's eve. a special dinner isn't the end of year. traditions in fall,

though it is the festival season. most people that we've spoken to has said that they are planning no key celebration because of the co crisis. and then the rest of this new year, we really didn't feel like partying with friends. so we are staying home with family. it's a bit sad, but these are the times we are in the office. i'll be home with my children and mother just to small group, and we're all getting tested before. well, the find health minister says the problem is facing a tidal wave. recently, new infection cases exceeded 200 miles on the day filled by the delta and on the chrome variance the french government, among the club down on new year's eve celebrations in order to try and stop the spread of the fireworks of the famous shores elisa has been nightclubs our shops, outdoor social gatherings are also not permitted. and in some cities, including here in paris mosques, once again, mandatory in the streets,

the williams, it's new year's eve. people will be indoors with families. so it's important to wear masks, to protect old people. but it's true that outside masses are annoying, but it's about protecting other pretty cheap. it's disappointing. it feels like we're going backwards and nothing is changing, or thrown on balls are still open and people can celebrate and socialize freely at home. but it's 2022 rovin. there's little doubt that most people in faults are hoping that is going to be the end of the covey crisis. at least the end of restrictions. the government says the best way out of the panoramic is vaccination . but doctors warned that the health emergency is fall from over. they say that i see you beds are still filling up and froze. and the next few weeks could be extremely difficult. but it's a different story in south africa where restrictions are being lifted off to infections dropped by almost 30 percent last week. and night time curfew is now being scraps and alcohol shops will be able to stay open past 11 p

n. because believes in the past, the peak of a 4th way filled by the con variant, the fast spreading strain 1st identified in south africa, caused a massive surge of infections from the middle has moved from cape town. south africa is in the peak of its holiday season, and the government's been under immense pressure from the tourism, as well as other business sectors to reduce coven 19 restrictions. sub africa economies been battered in the last 12 to 18 months because of those restrictions along with travel bands to south africa. now the government is saying that the decrease in the number of infections, at least 50 percent from one week to another, has boosted its confidence. and while experts are saying they're still worried about just how contagious the ami kron variance is, they're less worried about the severity of illness, as well as the number of hospitalizations which they say is, is very stable at this time of year. cities like this one, cape town,

see many tourists coming through and south africans at this point. a list worried about covert 19 and really focus on the holiday season. the curfew that's been in place between midnight and for a. m has now been removed and one of the few restrictions that remain in place is that moss have to be worn outside, as well as a limit to the number of people who gather indoors and outdoors, but certainly for many south africans, especially ahead of the new year it is as much as far as possible, a return to pre cova times. go ahead on the algebra. a temporary fix has much needed a descent, thousands disposed by fighting, and meanwhile, we report from the time border. and as the clock winds down on 2021, we look back at some of the bigger stories covered by al jazeera. ah,

ah, look forward to brighter scores with sponsored cutoff airways. hello, the weather is set fair across much of china and the korean peninsula. not quite so fair for japan. we got more snow in the forecast. we've got a brisk wind blowing across the sea of japan, some heavy downpours, some quite bitter snow coming back him once again that will cause further. disruption from northern parts of the country are quite a st. significant snowfall and some heavy falls to across northern areas of honshu to the south. it is generally dry, not too bad here try to for the korean peninsula, temperatures around to celsius, warming up to around 6 degrees in beijing. and as you can see, plenty of sunshine coming through, although that will be fog. and for us to watch out for just some winter weather coming back into the sea of japan as we go on through sunday, eating back towards japan. so further problems coming in here with some delays for

the problems i suspect coming into maple inch over the next day or so, more heavy showers drifting in on the ne monsoon to see that chain of storms, which just run their way to southern thailand. northern parts of malaysia, if anything, they do pep up around k l as we go through sunday. that could cause further flooding than the same line of storms while they run across the bay have been go more showers coming back into the southeast of india shall anchor also sing some heavy rain over the next couple of days. oh, the weather sponsored by katara, always african stories by african filmmaker turbo last of august. and with that all more the song mother learn all really short documentary from her keener fossil and synagogue . if you wanted to help with the your company, my you for years is up to the gift lobby of the man who plant bow bob and

a rest of the street africa direct on al jazeera with oh, you're watching on, is there a reminder of our top stories this off, the world has started bidding farewell to 2021. in the shadow of the pandemic and surging on the con varied sydney was one of the 1st to greet the new year. the spectacle included. thank you to front bind workers, help officials in britain, a warning people against traveling to england from scotland and wales to to the high number of cases. the case just reported another record number of infections with more than 189000. south africa says it will ease restrictions after covered 19 infections dropped by almost 30 percent last week. the government believes it's

past the peak of the surge caused by the only con variant. the u. s. age of colorado is battling some of the most destructive wildfires on record. hundreds of homes have been destroyed, forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes to towns near denver. our hardest hit with the situation is described as life threatening nor burn mandy reports. this is the moment a huge fire came rolling down the foothills of boulder, county and colorado. the false moving blaze engulfed hundreds of homes. local say they haven't experienced anything like it. you know, this is the 1st time i've really been involved in anything like this and i'll tell you it is really scary and things in the trees. oh, they're all up and flames like there's embers everywhere. so it makes me very frightened, of course, with the wind. it's going to continue to spread to other homes, strong winds, and dry conditions of fueling the flames. if this will say,

some of the fires was sparked by falling power lines, which it nighted prairie grosses estates were emergencies being declared and tens of thousands of people evacuated from the towns of superior and louis. phil. many getting stuck in traffic jams as they tried to scape gusts of a 100110 miles an hour's can and have moved this fire down a football field in a matter of seconds. very little time to get out very little time to even get the most important parts of your life. we currently have thousands of individuals in the south, south part of our county and in the areas of superior and lewisville who have been evacuated. we know that there are structures, both homes and businesses that have been burned in loss of speaking, but hundreds of structures in boulder, county, tens of thousands of people have been left in the dark with power lines down or destroyed. patients in critical care,

a being moved out of hospitals because of the threat from smoke winds, a gradually weakening, giving fire fighters some respite. but the billowing smoke could be a bigger hazard. as it travels across colorado. lore about manly al jazeera, the russian, and you asked presidents have spoken for the 2nd time this month, and in temps to deescalate tensions of ukraine. the white house, as the call between joe biden and vladimir putin lasted 50 minutes by then repeated the threat of sanctions. if moscow invades ukraine, hooton's said such a move could lead to a complete breakdown of ties between the countries is ready, forces have shot dead, a palestinian man in the occupied west bank. the incident took place near the out settlement south of nablus. israel says the suspect was attempting to stab civilians and soldiers that abbas station. the palestinian ministry of help has confirmed the death. after days a drift in open seas more than

a 100 were hang. a refugees are now safe. in indonesia, the damaged vessel was towed to shore and utter indonesia initially, plant turn them away, but later backs down of the international pressure. the u. n. has praised indonesia response as jessica washington reports from jakarta, indonesia archie province, a dangerous and exhausting journey has finally come to an end. these were hunger, refugees are finally safe. intending to reach malaysia, they perilous journey, saw them stranded in indonesian waters for days. for now, they're staying in an empty government building in northern uh, j o. they are off fellow muslims, so we aren't going to complain about having them here. overnight a navy vessel pulled their boat to shore an effort that was complicated by strong waves and heavy winds. representatives from the you and hcr and local, and cios waited anxiously for their arrival. ready to assist young farmer gabriela,

family. the 1st thing we need to do is check their health, give them food and drink after their days stranded at say, $47.00 children and 50 women are among those rescued from the damaged vessel. local fishermen from the town of buran 1st spotted the ship on sunday, near the coast of archie and immediately trying to assist them. some local said they felt solidarity with those on board as the plight of the ringa reminded them of our chaise own struggle. as of allah get with us with our 4 la. moreover, people here have experienced needing help from other countries. we can never forget was our situation was like when we were hit by the soon army. although it took days for the government to confirm it would allow the refugees to disembark in indonesia, the you and hcr has thanked them, saying they'd saved lives in a statement for you. and hcr said it was grateful to indonesia for once again proving its humanitarian spirit. it also praised indonesian authorities for it said,

setting an example by once again, assisting ro hanger, refugees in distress at sea. human rights groups have also welcomed indonesia decision that said the process should be improved, so rescues can be faster. so i bring by improving the residential regulation on your browser know lever. i think there won't be confusion any more in the future, and there will, there should be a quicker decision to help people in dangers. at 3 denisia regards itself as only a transit country where refugees cannot permanently resettle. so for these were hunger, the danger is over for now, but the uncertainty remains as to what the future holds. jessica washington al jazeera to carter. the death toll from the devastating super typhoon to had the philippines before christmas has risen to 400. 5 hyphen ry was the strongest hit,

the country. this year i left a trail of destruction in central and southern provinces and caused flash funds and landslides. 82 people are still reported. missing. aid is being sent from thailand to people forced from their homes by fighting in the and mall and south to violence data border east in the past couple of days, but ethnic car and fighters and me and ma say they'll only negotiate a si, fi if all government troops leave the area. tony chain reports from the border of thailand and me and my bags of rice and beans loaded up from a warehouse in the title of mess up its emergency aid desperately needed by people who fled from fighting inside mamma. the relief package has been put together by local businessmen who come from mamma. but live here in thailand. they're doing it because no one else will. this is an ac, our job. and we're, we're just like a small groups and we grassroot, we have not many capacity of like funding we're,

you know, the gathering these kind of aids. but operating in me is complicated. first volunteers have to negotiate with tie, border guards who helpful, but whose 1st priority is security. then a call to a local contact on the other bank in men. ma. well, they're coming across the river now to get the supplies mirror boxes, events the little, some water and who sold with more than 10000 people displaced inside mamma. this is only a very temporary fix. on the high side, every one retreats behind to take barea and not to cope with 19 protocols. the swim is then load the precious cargo on to make shift rafts, the water shallow. so bearing it across the river isn't hard. that they can't afford to lose anything. looks of relief on the opposite bank. and not just because of the food fighting between government troops and the ethnic current fighters has eased over the last 2 days. and the time military say that come to them. yeah,

most me will step back eventually. good. i guess a little all this time we've always received good cooperation when it comes to asking them to stop so that there won't be any threat to the safety of ties and their property. and the koran fighters aren't so sure they've been in conflict with mia mars army for decades. and there's little trust baghdad. you know, we don't trust the cease fire and they've been destroying villages killing villages and leaving only ashes. so how can you trust them all know why, how can you have a cease fire? all of that bad news for more than 5000 mia? my refugees on the ty side, there now assembled in one camp. the tiles doors is, are installing infrastructure, suggesting an extended stay. that could mean it will be weeks if not months before they can cross these hills and return home. tony chang al jazeera, on the time there mar border. tennessee is an ard, a party says its deputy head has been detained. is hes former justice minister over

the in behead. he was taken as he was leaving his home on friday. the party has called the arrest a dangerous precedent that undermines the democratic experience. and order has the largest number of seats intronas. he has parliament, which was suspended by president chi sides in july. south africans are paying their respects to archbishop desmond, tutu is his body lies in state for a 2nd day. in cape town, people are passing through saint george's cathedral where 22 preached and served as archbishop for a decade. south africans lined the streets to say their final goodbyes to the anti apartheid leader who railed against whitefield country 2 who died on sunday aged 90 is funeral will be held on saturday. scientists have found an underwater mountain in the southern ocean between australia and antarctica. it is 2 and a half 1000 meters high. the mountain has been given the temporary name, which he did g. i did not make that up and was found using an echo

a sound are far research ship. see mountains usually formed from extinct volcanoes and attract fish, wales, and coral. i was the wild prepares for the new year. ahead and take a look back now at some of the biggest stories out there covered in 2021. let's walk down pennsylvania avenue. ah, the u. s. capital building under sue cannot however, tara, from our responsibility to validate with joseph robin bye. your new songs were notions of what is known to go to is cherry always just me, a mazda and aquatic elective leadership retained as the military stage to

bit of a general thought of a bit less qu, they couldn't have been more wrong. taliban has taken over the final departure of the u. s. military up to 20 years. i believe this is the right to switch a violent day over dangerous days still ahead. nowhere in gaza feel safe, right? i'll just be right. will not be silenced. about him is ripping around the world. you see that right? and that by the tragedy of the lack of political will selfishness and miss the new all the cone very and to spread it 2022 must be the year we end the funding

code. read at a much pro, there is no planet b, there is no plan of blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, i'm deeply sorry. ah, the philippine government us call the fight against that particular rebels on extension to damp general have a say they don't want committed to the truth

there was always liked only we're brave enough to see it only we're brave enough with his algebra and these are the top stories, the world has started bidding farewell to 2021. and the shadow of pandemic kind of searching on the con, there it sydney was one of the 1st to greet the new year. spectacle included a thank you to front line workers help visuals in britain, a warning people against traveling to england from scotland and wales for new year events. due to the high number of cases, new k prime minister bras johnson has called on no celebrating to get tested or a challenge as more from london another day, another record number of new infections. the most recent data for the united kingdom shows that the new infection.