hidden scandalous practices to def, infiltrated international wholesale markets, and supermarket chains, and asks, what's really on our plate. food in glorious food on, ouch, is iraq. ah, the you a sense troops to eastern europe upstairs grow that russia could invade ukraine, the crumbling calls, the deployment destructive. ah . hello robin, the watching out is there alive? my headquarters here in doha, also coming up reopening their borders, new zealand least. and some of the world's toughest cove at 19 restrictions in following in his father's footsteps. the son of former philippines president, ferdinand marcus is an election favorite. but faces disqualification also

and china welcomed the world to the winter olympics of mounting cro virus cases and diplomatic boycotts ah bulk of the program, the military standoff over ukraine is escalating with the u. s. president, sending thousands of american troops to eastern europe. 2000 soldiers well had to poland and germany, while a 1000 more will be deployed in romania. the u. s. a. nato already have tens of thousands of troops in europe. the pentagon says the move since a strong signal to russia, which continues to deny is planning to invade ukraine. our white house correspondent, kimberly hawk. it begins our coverage after ramping up the possibility for week of a rush, an invasion of ukraine, the white house, and when stay downgraded that threat from president vladimir putin saying an

evasion is no longer imminent. i use that once, i think others have used that once, and then we stopped using it because i think it sent and a message that we weren't intending to send, which was that we knew that president putin had made a decision. still, the united states is sending more troops to eastern europe, with some of the forces will be re position to romania. others will be coming from the united states to poland and germany. it's a response to president putin who has position tens of thousands of troops inside russia near ukraine's border. it's important that we send a strong signal to mister putin and frankly, to the world that nato matters to the united states. it made it matters to our allies and we have iron clad oracle 5 commitments an attack on one as an attack on all the roughly $3000.00 troops will bolster the nato presence in europe and are in

addition to the $8500.00 us troops put on stand by last month by u. s. president joe biden. the united states maintains diplomacy is the best path to resolving security disagreements. russia, what's assurances nato will halt expansion into former soviet republics like ukraine, but the west won't provide that guarantee. instead, biden's promised severe consequences if whom invades he has shown no signs of being interested or willing to deescalate the attentions. the u. s. forces will reinforce nato's eastern flag, working with host countries. as nato has not yet activated its response force to counter what it refers to as rush and aggression. i think there's an argument aspect to what they're doing, which is to put something on the table that can be taken away. a check if you will, in exchange for roxanne, non aggression against you. great. despite no,

no russian threat and no signs of an eminent invasion of ukraine. the pentagon says the movement of troops could begin soon. and there could be the possibility of even more true movements in the future. kimberly hell can al jazeera washington. dorothy jabari hospital from bhaskar. we've been hearing from the russian deputy foreign. i'm secretary, who said that this is a destructive step. alexandra goosgo has said that this is not really const conducive. and it's just illustrates that the americans are trying to escalate the tension rather than trying to de escalate. we've also been hearing from an mp who is the deputy head of the foreign affairs committee here in duma. and he's been saying that said this is an absolutely destructive step and that it's an action that can be qualified as an attempt to derail the negotiations. that are ongoing

about russia, security concerns. there is a sense that the united states is really trying to corner russia into giving in, on their demands that they've been making from the u. s. government and nato, about the expansion of nato, as well as a, going back to the 1997 level of membership. the russian president vladimir putin said that they want to see that level of members, really because the numbers keep increasing and that is very much a security concern. charles cochin is a senior fellow at the council for relations. he says the us wants to send a message to russia. i'm not surprised, this has been in the works now for a couple of weeks. i think there are 2 main goals from washington's perspective. one is to take a prudent step to reassure allies that the u. s is going to defend them if they faced an attack and keep in mind that both poland and romania have a border with ukraine. poland has

a long border with bail roost where the russians are building up force. and the other goal is to send a message to bruton. you want to play hardball, we're will play hardball, and you need to know that if you invade ukraine, you're going to find a lot more nato capability on the eastern flank along russia's western border. it's in addition to some forces that ended up in the baltic countries and in poland after the nato summit in 2016, a response to russian aggression in ukraine, the annexation of crimea, where it's a modest increase. and i think that's deliberate, because biden wants to send a signal of strength and reassurance, but he doesn't want to take a provocative move. so this is really a prudent move and intended to push back against russia. see if, if i can't convince them to go to the negotiating table, we're at a very critical stage right now. in the international diplomacy. though, there are pulls of these,

a people have been killed in the u. s. that operate in olden syria. it's believed and al qaeda affiliate finds that it was the target in the town of at may in italy, province homes in the revel controlled area would damaged resident say they had shelling and gunfire. my credit virus is killing americans at a far higher rate than people in other wealthy nations, not scolding to analysis by the new york times. the daily number of covert related deaths in the u. s. is at its highest level live almost a year. data from johns hopkins university shows a 39 percent increase in the past 2 weeks. there's no daily average of more than $2400.00 fatalities. the zealand is easing strict border controls imposed any 2 years ago in response to the career of ours. pandemic vaccinated new zealand does in australia will be allowed ho without current teams to the end of this month. citizens returning from the rest of the world can come back from mid march. all travel restrictions will end in october.

it's time to move again. and so today in 5 steps, we move forward with our plan to reconvene, medial and to the world. beginning with step one. today i'm announcing that the fully vaccinated k ways and other currently eligible travelers from a straight lia will be able to travel to new zealand from 11 59 pm, sunday, 27 february. and instead of going into my queue, will be able to self isolate. when hey, has more from the city of toronto. from february the 28th, we will see vaccination, new zealanders who are in australia able to return to this country. and while they won't do the quarantine in a hotel room, which situation at the moment, they will still have to isolate at home at the moment that is 10 days self installation, it will come down pretty quickly to 7. and i think most people are expecting it to

continue to drop away after that and the not too distant future 93 percent of the population fully vaccinated and that is a population or vaccination of people are age 12 and over. so it's a large chunk of the population that is now fully vaccinated. the whole point of the elimination strategy from the government's point of view was to try to prevent people dying to save lives and also protect the health system. and since the pandemic began with only had $53.00 deaths and new zealand. so i think most people would agree that from that standpoint, the elimination strategy has been a success. but it had to come to an end at some stage, and while on the cron did see the border reopening delayed slightly. it also came with an acknowledgment from the government that because micron is so contagious that they could not keep it out forever and sure enough we've got community cases of, of, of the, on the cross very and in new zealand now. and soon that's going to be potentially

hitting up into thousands of cases a day. so then you would have the situation of people going into quarantine hotels healthy, fully vaccinated. while there are people in the community who are affected, turkey and armenia have resume commercial flights for the 1st time in 2 years, place to call miss stumble so yet and later, wednesday evening. it marks the 1st stage of normalize the relations between the neighbors. the relationship has been a long, strained one because of mass killings, bombings in the early 20th century. now the philippines election commissioners said to decide whether to bar former front runner, 3rd and, and marcus junior from may's presidential election, the son of late leader, ferdinand. marcus's popular amongst many voters to william bergen reports now from the capital manila. the 22 year rule of president ferdinand marcus. it seemed to day as a brutal and divisive period in philippine history. a people power revolution

forced him out of office and into exile in 1986. but decades later, his son for his mark was junior and also known as the bon. bonded is a front runner in this year's presidential election. my intention to run it may seem surprising to many, but the political resurgence of the marcus's didn't happen in an instant. oh, experts see the my passes have spent years using social media to rewrite history. monitor online means like this. new zealand prime minister has sinned, dark turn, breezing, bumble, marcus, junior, or of the american basketball superstar michael jordan, receiving a box of bread from the late president, have dominated, online chat groups. it's even said that the marcus's will give away tons of gold bars and other treasure. if bon bon becomes president treasure,

that fact checkers and journalists say does not exist. but the story has already spread widely on social media, even after twitter announced last week that it has suspended hundreds of pearl markers accounts. i think it's also important to consider the desperation of many oracle epistles. ah, and that desperation, economic and social their needs, are, the pandemic has exacerbated that. and this is just the market, us exploiting that desperation making filipinos believe that there is a quick way out of poverty. al jazeera requested an interview with mr. mark, as his campaign team, there was no response. the marcus camp has repeatedly denied owning social media chal farms. we know that social me just very low verifiability. the philippines once a shining star on democracy in asia, is now build

a box lighting country. the philippines is the biggest, the facebook user in southeast asia, and the 6 in the world's researchers say, the higher populations exposure to social media, the higher it's vulnerability to dis, information. this information they say has the power to obliterate the ability of people to distinguish what is real and what is not jamal alan goggan al jazeera manila still had here on al jazeera, the u. s. sends military support to the united arab emirates, every string of attacks by hootie rebels. also the political crackdown continues in nicaragua as leading opposition thick as prepared to stand trial. ah,

february is often the coldest month in both europe and in the u. s. a coldest bumper winter, coldest months of the year. this is the exception of these temperatures. daytime high temperatures throughout the u. s. right down to the gulf coast. we are significant below where we should be. new orleans on thursday hangs on to 23 in washington. 14, but that difference is so great that once again, it's significant winter events taking place with snow likely to fall in land re near the coast between the 2. a dangerous line. that for example, could give pittsburgh freezing range because you black ice on the ground. otherwise significant amount of snow and rain ahead of it and the freezing right is the dangerous bit, stretching all the way down through a kentucky and tennessee, down towards arkansas and then that cold as going to keep going south. so the 23 new orleans disappears in nashville. we're down to about 3 degrees fairly rapidly from 12 and over gulf coast. there we go. 23, down to 9. by the time you get to friday and that normally would,

and it will hang around for a while as well. this is friday's picture. that's it all. moving through this more snow coming into the pacific coast, particularly seattle, and also vancouver. recently we seen flooding in hispaniola, that's haiti, for example, only slowly improving. ah, there was a time when the aka vanguard, with a flowed through enough to sustain life in the northern calahan deserts all year round. but that's changing. we follow 3 men in different parts of the van go down as they faced drought one of the animals and manmade crack in the constant fight for survival risk and it all but one. and i'll just oh

a look like you're watching onto there with me. so robin a reminder of all top stories. the us is deploying thousands of extra american troops to eastern europe. the pentagon says we've sent a strong signal to russia, which is a massive troops that ukraine border. also, new zealand is the thing. strict border control. sometimes any 2 years ago, respond to the current virus pandemic. vaccinate citizens in australia will be the 1st law without warranty this month. and there are reports that at least 8 people have been killed in the us. that operation in northern syria is believed and al qaeda phillips fighter was the target in italy province. the united arab emirates says it's destroyed 3 drones that entered it as space on

wednesday, the armed group we had wide huck said that launched the drones to target what it calls vital facilities. the group says it will continue to attack the u a until it stops interfering in yemen and iraq. the u. s. is sending flying to dance underwashed to the united arab emirates in response to several attacks by heating rebels in yemen in the past few weeks. of the missile attack was accepted on monday . the lee is part of the saudi led coalition at war in yemen. my mate thought has moved from yeoman's capital sinner. so far we haven't heard from the host these here that they have carried out any attack and also we haven't spoken about this group or their involvement or any link to the to this group. so far, the host is this moment, i believe just still waiting for the united arab emirates to make it to move,

to answer to their terms in order to stop their tags. on the united m routes so far, calling on the united states to stop its involved to stop its involvement in the solid quality and war in yemen. and also to withdraw its forces and also to stop its financing or supporting any any were what is the way the describe any militia men on the ground in yemen so far the, this new newly imagined group which has declared themselves or ignited themselves as we are allowed to do so far the, it is no relation or link to the hoses may be from iraq. was to respond to some low v as, as the to the sample size. and we, in recent days, especially a few days ago, big demonstration was held in iraq. in support of,

of the whole these and also v m. and he's under the control of the hoses. so far, this newly emerging group has proven, was the observer say that now the the council, which is in yemen has started to, to over to effect or to impact other countries in the region. the guinea, besides government says 11 people were killed in tuesday's attack. all the presidential palace is being seen as an attempted coup among the dental full civilians, as well as members of the military present or model support of barlow survive. what he says was an attempt to kill him along with the prime minister and cabinets. now he believes the 5 hour attack was linked to drug trafficking rather than a bid to overthrow him. military lead isn't peculiar fast, so have lifted a nationwide curfew. it's been in place since they seize power just over a week ago. peculiar pool, all the amoeba has been appointed, interim head of state ousted president ross,

couple re remains of the house arrest west africa. the regional blog echo on suspended became defense. they were the que happened. leaders from the group will meet in gone later to decide whether to impose sanctions on the military and address hospital from across the cross semi to was initially called to address the unfolding situation in booking possible. but 2 days before it started, we all saw what happened in getting a bas, how now a lot of people here believe that we may not have seen or heard the last of such terms in west africa region that was notorious for who's in the past. now the question on everybody's lives, if, what, when, what stuff can lead us do to stop these attempts from recurring in the region? a lot of people say to little, because already these region is already fighting. so many players are the same time . and there is little appetite on the part of what stuff we can make to spend the improves to try to rest power from soldiers who i'm constitutionally took away

power from democratic electra civilians. and because this is because many of these countries are also battling to put out their own pies, the biggest contributor to any regional military build up nigeria is having to deal with its own problems. and you said you see in the north east of the country, a succession is movement in the south. it's of the country, banditry, kidnappings, and all these vices happening all over with military currently engaged in at least $32.00 of us $36.00 states. now the last time we've seen such move was, like we said in the gambia, when yeah, general was forced to retreat and handle the power to democratically elected government. while these meeting this particular meeting, holding in across a lot of people will be watching closely to see what was african religious will do . how far reaching oh, how far are they willing to go to take measures other than imposing sanctions? schools in bonus, cutting of economic aid to countries why,

who have taken place. so us to stop this from continuing in a region that was notorious for cause in the past. 17 people have died. may argentine as capital after taking contaminated cocaine? more than 50 others have been admitted to hospital. there are reports. a gang cut the cocaine with a toxic substance to reduce costs. please have made a dozen arrests. several vehicles have been satellite in chile, in an attack linked to the indigenous, but put a resistance at least 3 people where we did when a group of armed men ambush drive isn't a forestry plantation and shot their trucks. those behind the attacks left a message connecting it to them, of which a people i believe is demanding the return of ancestral lands owned by farming or locking companies. but in the book, i mean with indignation and try to impotent our work. if you are attacked by these organized groups who use firearms against our workers shooting up point blank range

without carrying about anything, westerbelt is it completes impunity. the falls of 2 high profile opposition figures are resuming in nicaragua. dozens of the president's political opponents are accused of violating the constitution. many were hoping to an against daniel, taken in november, presidential race, but were imprisoned the head of the vote. lots of america editor, lucy in human reports. there are no images of what's happening inside my, nor was she what the prison. it's where more than 40 government opponents have been . tried behind closed doors for alleged conspiracy, terrorism, and much more human rights into direct view, minute call it a judicial force, or what they've not been able to prove any crime against these people who have been practically kidnapped and kept in prison, violating the law and denying them due process, there's no presumption of innocence, the lawyers have had no access to them until the day of the trial. this is

a model of an isolation cell when nunez says the kids suffer from cruel and inhumane treatment, including torture, would be presidential candidate phillips, my dad the other faces up to 24 years in prison for leading an opposition coalition that demanded free and transparent elections last year, his wife, who says she and their daughter were forced to flee, nicaragua, believes a guilty verdict is a foregone conclusion. i feel might be facing. i think the hardest part is having to console our 8 year old daughter, and knowing that he might be arrested, felix sent her a tight message saying he loved her and would always be thinking of her. but it's difficult. hammer, president ortega began arresting his staunchest opponents, including 7 presumptive presidential candidates. 6 months before november's elections. he ran and won a 4th consecutive term virtually unopposed. but the elections were widely dismissed as a sham for members of godless fernando cham morals. family. i now been tried,

and some of her we are facing a great injustice based on political vengeance. not just my sister christiana, but my brother, pedro, why king and 2 cousins. all of the prisoners are innocent and are being tried for participating in civic protests because they represent the desire of nicaraguans to hold free elections. what vehicle deangela? former ortega allied daughter, maria deus, an emblematic rebel commander during the 1970s sandinista revolution was also being tried this week on charges of treason. ah, as is 24 year old, listed alman, a student leader who helped organize mass protests against ortega in 2018 or take a has ignored widespread international appeals to release the opposition prisoners preferring it seems to make an example of those whom he accuses the trying to overthrow his government, but by tightening control and encouraging more nicaraguans to join the 10s of

thousands of all ready fled the country. the trials could end up making the country's political crisis even worse. sea and human al jazeera followers, all the for brazilian religion, candid blay, have gathered in rio de janeiro to celebrate the siegel as yemen jar. they've been asking for protection of mid rise in cases of the overcoat cove. in 1900 berry. and the ceremony usually a drunk thousands of people, but only a few dozen times of this year. now, chinese present shooting pings as his country will do its best to deliver a safe and splendid winter olympics. the international olympic committee as we meet in beijing ahead of the opening ceremony on friday, committee president, his boss says everything is in place. so announce standing gains. but officials are facing mounting current various cases inside and outside the olympic bubble and diplomatic boycotts and concerns over china's human rights record persist. katrina

ye reports now from the capital o. a theme song welcoming the world to watch the 2022 winter games. while the olympic torch makes its way through bay, jake, china has promised to deliver a safe and splendid global event with our but it cheating this, is it going to be easily mo, from a nation wide outbreak of curve 19 and record cases abroad? a testing it's 0 tolerance. pandemic strategy. participants are greeted with help is it has map suits and must undergo a rigorous testing rating before and during the event for it's found to be positive, are immediately quarantined and could miss out on competing. there's been a lot of athletes that are testing positive right now. and it's scary because you put in for years since the last games you know, johnny put in 20 or years to get years and for all of that to go to waste in the

last week last couple days it would be a tragedy. and so that's always kind of on your mind and it is stressful tickets won't be sold to the chinese public. instead, spectators will be hand picked by authorities. this will be the 2nd olympics to take place during the grown of iris pandemic. witnesses here a much stricter than during the tokyo games. participants are sealed off in a closed loop system. the road lane just below me, is restricted to gains vehicles only, and local residents have would want to stay away. even in the event of a crash break down, the heavy handed measures have led to an olympic atmosphere unlike any other. but for beijing that message is clear. there's not going to be the great crap crouch, you're not going to have the tourism boast. ah, that would have accompanied something like and so for beijing, what they want to show the world is that they're able to carry on regardless of how difficult situations become. difficulties also include criticism of china's human

rights record and diplomatic boycotts by the united states and canada. britain and australia. chinese officials have dismissed this as political grandstanding. but analysts say china's president is eager to avoid further embarrassment during the event. if he does not get the game happening as expected, then it will be quite a bit of a slap in the face is not ah, a faint cold punch in any sentence. but he will be very embarrassing for she. jimmy chinese rights activists living in the capitol say they've been visited by authorities and want to stay silent during the olympics. within the bubble, the i always see says, athletes are free to express their views outside of formal events or ceremonies. but organizers say, though, as you break chinese laws with behavior or speech that is against the olympic

spirit, will face certain punishment. katrina, you al jazeera, they ging, ah, what you all deserve me. so robin, reminder of our top stories, the u. s. is deploying thousands of extra american troops to eastern europe. the pentagon says the moves as a strong signal to russia, which is amassing troops at ukraine's border. we do not know if russia has made a final decision to further evade ukraine. but it clearly has that capability. the department of defense will continue to support diplomatic efforts led by the white house and the state department to press for resolution. we do not believe conflict is inevitable. the united states in lock step with our allies in partners has offered russia a path to de escalate. but we will take all prudent measures to assure our own.