afraid you can use that to justify stripping away basic civil liberties. listening post examines the vested interest behind the content you consume on al jazeera. ah, russian president vladimir putin. hell is what he calls unprecedented. close ties with china. he's in beijing for the opening of the winter olympics. ah, you're watching all your life from headquarters in delphi and getting to also a hedge train to fight. we report on the self defense camps for school children, and suffer just controlled eastern ukraine. the, the toll from covered 1900 or possibly half a 1000000 in india. as the on the kron very it takes whole and pressure grows on

the u. k. prime minister. as for of his top aides resign within hours of each other . ah, hello, the winter olympics will get underway in beijing in the next few hours, but it's russia's deteriorating relations with the west. that's taking center stage before that opening ceremony versus president is in the chinese capital for talks with his counterpart in what's seen as a display of unity between the 2 major powers. and that's as the u. s. and europe threatened unprecedented sanctions against moscow if ukraine is attacked. putting has praised the unprecedented ties with beijing and presented a new deal to supply china with its natural gas. we'll find out more from dorset. jabari was standing by for a mosque about 1st. let's go to katrina you with the latest in beijing. so our chinese authorities viewing this visit and what are they getting out of it?

well, it's certainly very important. there are a number of important leaders and dignitaries arriving already in china for the beginning of the winter olympics. but putin is really being loaded as the most important guests to come to china. these 2 are clearly trying to put on a show of unity, a shows strengthen a possible counterweight to the powers of the u. s. and other european and west and allies. and when it comes to ukraine. of course, china has said that russia's legitimate security concerns need to be listened to both foreign ministers of these 2 countries mess and aging yesterday, where they said they coordinated that positions on the board. attentions. this doesn't necessarily mean that they would welcome any attack or invasion of ukraine . paging itself has very good ties with care. it's an important trading partner. member of china is built in road infrastructure initiative, but certainly when,

as she's been paying in fruit and sitting down to the ukraine, is high on the agenda there. coordination on a number of foreign policy issues, not just in ukraine. and these 2 leaders office share a very deep personal friendship and connection, which really is reflected in the deepening ties in cooperation that we've seen between these 2 countries. in recent years, they have similar views on international politics. very similar governing styles and china has signaled that it would support russia economically. should russia face any crippling u. s. section as a result of any actions in ukraine. and this would really help to buffer or protect russia from being isolated or alienated in the event of this happening, how china could do that, that's really still up for discussion. but it could do a number of things. china could provide russian firms with bank loans. it could

help to set up an alternative payment system. it could also even encourage chinese funds to evade us export controls and outside of financial support. china, of course, could back russia when it comes to any meaningful action in the un security council . i think this is also beneficial for trying to have russia's partnership, have russia support going forward? it would create a sort of tacit agreement that should be doing find itself in any similarly sticky situation in the future due to any actions that may take, for example, in the south china sea or over taiwan. then that would be that understanding that russia perhaps could also return the favor for aging. ok, thank you. katrina, you reporting from beijing. let's get the view from moscow. bring endorse of jabari . so what is what russian authorities trying to achieve here? georgia well i think they're trying

to strengthen not only as katrina mentioned, the economic and political ties, but they're in talks to finalize. one of the biggest deals when it comes to russia, china relations. and that is the issue of building a 2nd gas pipeline from russia to china. it's known as the power of siberia to pipeline. that would be going from the am all peninsula in siberia to china via mongolia. it's now we understand, we're just hearing from officials here that they have signed a contract with a chinese companies to build a pipeline in the natural gas pipeline in the far via, far east. we believe that it is the same that we've been hearing about over the past few days. now what this means is that and the supply that would be sent to of gas sent to china would be coming from the same source. they amal peninsula that supplies the gas to europe. this means that the gas from company that is the state

own company. here it would have the options of pete choosing one market over another. and this gives lot of your point, of course, even more political power, because he would have the option of picking china over europe. if at this situation deteriorates. the emo peninsula is currently supplying 200000000000 cubic meters of gas to europe annually. and china is now getting $38.00 about $38.00 billions of cubic gas, a gas annually from russia. they're looking to double that in the coming years. by this pipeline will be very, very significant. but it's only not just about economic, a relationship that is good. it's strengthening already. it's also about the politics between the 2 countries. and of course, china has always been very much a supporter of russia and is specifically there to members permanent members of the united nations security council with china often backing russia in that governing body in the you one. so let me put in very happy to be meeting with his chinese

counterpart shooting pain. they haven't seen each other since 2019. and of course this is just another step to strengthen the relationship between the 2 countries. thank you so much. are center vari, reporting from moscow. russia back separatists in eastern ukraine has set up training camps for youths. instructor say students are taught about patriotism and self defense troll stratford reports in the town of mackenzie. these teenagers, a, some of the 5000 members of a youth movement in the pro, russia, separatist controlled region of east in ukraine. they are all still at school. you know, me roughly translates to army of the youth instructors. many of them form a separation fighters say they teach patriotism and how to defend the self declared republic. dimansky. john 8 years of conflict with ukraine remains unrecognized by

any country in the world, even its main baccha, russia, the students. it's also a range of skills including martial arts, 1st aid and assembling, and disassembling weapons, which we are not allowed to film. 14 year old christina joined 2 years ago after her cousin was killed during fighting between the russian bank separatists ukrainian army. just think of it ocean, it's very painful for me when i remember she was like my brother, i joined because of his death because i wanted to remember those last in the war, especially. we don't want to make the same mistakes that we need to. the soviet union was attacked in world war 2. murals in the school. cordele celebrate russian history and cultural figures like the novelist and poet alexander, pushkin. a map shows crimea painted in the colors the russian flag, so i thought to come on. today's class is about the victory of soviet forces over

the nazis. and the bustle of stalingrad considered one of the bloodiest battles in history, claiming around 2000000 lives. in the manager, the crew that i don't unami feels like my 2nd family, my 2nd home. when you go through so much together, you become very close at the bit of the white nash, but the develops are patriotism. we remember and a proud of our predecessors, and i want to eventually serve in the army outside students prepare for a battle. we split into 2 opposing sides and fired each other using laser guns and stacks of tires as cover. but this isn't just again, this might look like fun, but of course it has serious implications. and it's important to recognize that there are similar youth groups, ukrainian government control side also being trained like this. there they,

it's hope that the danger is what the crane is described as russian expansionism with its roots in the soviet past. here it starts is tell the children that the danger isn't ideology that has huge residents with both the young and the old. they are working. ok he no them work for susan. ukraine is not our enemy. fascism is the enemy. and 2014. when the conflict started, we were standing up against fascists. like our grandparents did. we can't say we have enemies. our only enemy is fascism. we don't want to just to make fresh, isn't our friend? christina, friends too young to fully understand how history can be manipulated to serve military or political ends in any conflicts. if you could almost away the abandon ruins of homes and places where children once played destroyed in 8 years of war

with no peaceful solution in sight, a conflict into which the young on both sides of being drawn, shall stafford al jazeera. don't ask. india has refused to send its top the plumber to the opening ceremony of the bingeing winter olympics. india accuses the chinese of politicizing the ceremony by having a soldier wounded in fighting with indian troops carry the olympic torch. at least 20 indian soldiers and 4 chinese were killed in border classes in 2020. other countries including the u. s. and canada have joined a diplomatic boycott because of human rights concerns. more details have now emerged about the killing of ice o leader during a us special forces operation in northwestern, syria. i would our human hashem, it could. she was one of at least 13 people, including 6 children who died during that rate and the town of ultimate and rebel held in the province. it was the biggest us raid there since an attack in 2019 that

killed the previous leader of iso or white house correspondent. kimberly, how can i was more this horrible terrorist leader is no more in an address to the nation from the roosevelt room of the white house. u. s. president joe biden spoke about the operation. he ordered that killed the ice. a leader abu ibrahim al, has she, me, al, karachi, and i directed the department of defense to take every precaution possible to minimize civilian casualties. knowing that this terror, she chosen sharon himself with families, including children. we made a choice to pursue a special forces raid at a much greater risk than our to our own people, rather than targeting him with an air strike. as us special forces moved in the ice, a leader reportedly detonated an explosive and a final act of desperate cowardice. he chose to blow himself up, taking several members of his family with him. the mission happened thursday in

northwestern, syria in it live province. residents on the ground said at least 13 people, including children, were killed in the operation. the pentagon said there were no true casualties with the credit anymore biden, his vice president and national security advisors over saw the mission from the situation room of the white house. it was the biggest us rated, syria says the 2019 operation that killed the ice. a leader abu bakar albert daddy . this operation was literally months in the planning the u. s. targeted the ice, a leader for threats he allegedly posed to us interests and crimes committed in iraq in 2014, including the enslavement of his edi women. the raid comes a week after the defense secretary ordered the u. s. military to do more to protect civilians in combat operations often largely forgotten in the west proseries. it

may be the only a silver lining of this is it has brought by media attention to the conflict. and sylvia seems from their perspective that no one really cares. and so one advantage in a sense is that this is now go to your back into, into the news. despite efforts to limit casualties. some members of congress are now calling for an investigation into the civilian deaths to ensure that every reasonable step was taken to protect innocent lives. kimberly helped get al jazeera, the white house, still ahead on al jazeera, the prospect of permanent removal from public life via mars elsa liter faces new charges import auto workers and mexico. making history with a vote that could shake up labor relations across the country. ah,

where the rainy season should be. stinky, about disappearing. it hasn't gone yet. so there's plenty of showers around for the central southern philippines, rap malaysia and indonesia. and they've really increased in the forecast and recently, natural real life in kuala lumpur, singapore. and i think they will be in southern thailand very soon. the saturdays forecast in australia also has been particularly wet and we're still flood warnings . but as you can see, the showers have gone away. we're talking about tropical australia with the wet weather and on shore breeze. means a little cooler from this new south wells site from sidney up to brisbin, and it's been halt. indeed, it continues to be hot on saturday in person about 40 degrees that won't last, this hot spells coming to an end. so sunday, we'll see a breeze ready for off the water. so 30 that, that 23 by tommy get to monday. significant rain in, in australia issues. it's hard to find but not in new zealand. is quite significant

in norfolk in fact i think if you're a wellington, your fellow disappointing starts weekend and possibly disappointing. and so he could this yellow suggest particularly heavy right now walking cross church isn't moving across to walls, nor thought it is the picture of a sunday little real change here. that could some could cause some significant flooding. ah, in south korea military service is compulsory. but some refused to take part one at 18 weeks. those dodging the drop on al jazeera as well, the best athletes prepared for the winter olympics staging is bracing itself for the arrival of an estimated 11000 people, kind of 0 tolerance, corporate strategy walk. and despite diplomatic play, quote, which one is which again,

client will bring you the latest date is 2022 winter olympics on al jazeera. ah ah. hello again to tell stories on our to 0. the sour versus president is hailed what he calls unprecedented close ties with china. jury a meeting with president she jumping in beijing, the show of unity comes, is relations deteriorates with the west over russia. true, build up near ukraine. the u. s. says the leader of i saw, has been killed in a special forces operation in northwestern syria, over human hashmi upgrade. she was once was one of at least 13 people who died during dot reed and rebel held. it'll province me in mars, l said leader ang santucci is due to appear in court again,

this time on charges of corruption, including the purchase of a helicopter, while in office, she is already been sentenced to 6 years in detention, and new charges could lead to her complete removal from public life for the foreseeable future. tony chang reports as she voted in 20 twenty's election, it would have been hard for uncensored tea to predict her greatest political success would lead to her downfall. since last he has qu in myanmar, she's been detained in isolation, only appearing in court to face charges that may lead to years in prison. what is said, none. the less senior members of her party believe she still has a major role to play period. she will have to do more and more for democracy. an for obama? yeah, i'm now approaching 58. she is $76.00, but she is much healthier than me. but the events of the past year have shown that

uncensored cheese policy of engaging the military didn't work. she even went so far as to defend, the arm is violent, crack down against the ringer. that last many supporters on the global stage, while that didn't punish her reputation at home. it also failed to stop the generals of seizing control on indra kind. the majority of the people understand that in their answers, she was trying her a compromise solution compromised approach shoe, and as far as appeasing the military in power. ah, but of course that fav, it's very hard to get a sense of public opinion inside miramar, with the military arresting people for their political beliefs. but here in the tie border town of myself as a large exiled community and a variety of opinions about the woman. simply known as the lady, me who i want own santucci to be released so that things can change the l m. o and

our holiday. i wanna, i want new people to take over these positions because she is too old and those people should be young like us. her testers continued to take to the streets, risking their lives to oppose military rule. and calling for new men more freed from the constraints of the past. all of this is happening without on sons who t if or when she is released. she may find herself in a much diminished ro, tony cheng al jazeera, on the time he on my board of india has officially recorded more than half a 1000000 corona virus deaths. but some experts say the actual figure is much higher. the army kron variant is behind the countries. 3rd wave of covered 19. a study published in the journal science estimates about 3000000 people have died. the government says the claims are baseless, of natal has more from new delhi exports an estimate this milestone to have been

crossed months ago. and that the actual death could be in millions. you know, what makes this even was, is that how undignified a lot of these episodes? well, of course, many of these debts reported an estimated war during the devastating debts. how will that happen? last summer, you may remember that at the time hospitals were overrun, so many people died just waiting for waiting for a hospital bed, waiting for oxygen. i mean hot for those ran out of oxygen. so many of these debts were actually preventable. crematorium were overrun, families had to wait, i was to commit their loved ones. they actually ran out of what, so they have to go to the forest to chop wood and complete permissions. the told that crematorium so reporting well, much higher than what the official tally was at the time. and then of course, there was a tragic episode of hundreds of bodies found floating in the ganges,

turned out, cared and poor villagers just didn't have any other way to dispose of the dead just that's just how high the volume was. that episodes piled into political blame game between states and eventually government started pulling off shouts from dead bodies buried by the river bank so that photographer couldn't capture the tragedy. and the extent to which the government had failed in addressing the cobra. 1900 crisis in the country. a covered 19 lockdown and tongue has been extended by another 48 hours. the pacific islands have 5 confirmed infections after having only one until last month to nami disaster. much needed aid also brought the virus evacuation orders are being issued amount of gas car as a large cycle of approaches from the indian ocean cycle. and, but sariah is forecast to storm the east coast on saturday with high wind and rain

that could effect up to 600000 islanders. it's already led to the death of at least one person in maricia se, and it's also affected the nearby french island of reunion for senior aide to the u. k. prime minister have resigned this so called party gates, scandal deepens. they include boris johnson, chief of staff, and his private secretary and director of communications for re challenge has more from southern england manero massa in her resignation letter said you are a better man than many of your detractors will ever understand, which is why it is desperately sad that you let yourself down by making a scurrilous accusation against the leader of the opposition. now the other resignations ah, basically be being presented by law as the prime minister, as part of this big, clear routes that he promised of the downing street operation following the su gray report. but i have to say it doesn't seem like he's in control of these

resignations at the moment and there's a sense that these are people leaving a sinking ship dominic cummings, of course no friends of the prime minister, his former aid. now arch enemy tweeted earlier in the day, it's the mistake of a signal that the bunker is collapsing and this prime minister is finished. around 6000 car workers and mexico have voted for a new trade union. the change in general motors as seen as a test for off new legislation and the breaking the grip of traditional unions and john, home and report. so it's on one of the 1st secret ballots. off its type, a change of shift in the general motors factory salon, mexico's and the change of god with the union to of the 25 years. they now have new representation and hoping things will be different level that they say. the truth is that there was always a c t m union jack and they never represented us. they always looked full personal

benefits and protected the factories, interests. now, an independent workers union has taken charge. that could be hugely significant for more than just the $6000.00 workers here. it makes core, it's a common story that unions are in cahoots with big business, rather than getting employees better wages and benefits. the g m workers. insulin, for example, told us they were paid lesson attempt of what the counterparts in the us get. i've always thought that a labor reform, one of the requisites of a renegotiate to trade deal between this country. the us and canada, aims to change that. it gives met, can work, has the right to vote on the unions and labor contracts in secret ballots. something that really happened before the election in se allow, was seen as a bell with a vote, with the new secret elections work on thursday morning. the results, the new cynthia union trance, the old one. it's headed by paint worker alejandro morales. now she's came to get

started eloquent out of this at any up without the contract that we have was completely on the side of the employer. there weren't many rights for the workers and we have to change that. we have to be a union that really defends them a whole lot. but it's not just mexican workers who stand to benefit from this. there's a reason why you as union reps watching this vote carefully. it's obvious why in particular the u. s. wants this and negotiated for it. in the u. s. m. ca, trade deal, we curl, co opted unions mean less pay and benefits for employees, which in turn means cheaper mexican labor costs. the u. s. wants to stop. what it sees is unfair competition. but there's no guarantees that sellers will be repeated in the many mexican companies that don't affect u. s. or canadian businesses. nozik doin is the last embrace, the sectors where there's interest from the u. s. government and unions who promoted this reform are going to be observed and we'll now see the closest we've had to free and fair elections. but we're talking about

a very restricted number of companies. there are thousands of others in mexico that have protectionist unions and will never have those elections when it will be up to the mexican government itself to choose if it wants to change that or simply lead its own reform. langrish john holman, al jazeera metzger city. us president joe biden has outlined new measures to tackle raising gun violence. he visited new york city were 5 police officers have been shot since the start of the year. gabriel alexander reports in many cities in america, gun violence is on the rise, including in new york, where thousands of police officers lined the streets to say good bye. after 2 officers were shot to death in an ambush. the gun used to kill the officers was a glock, 45, equipped with an illegal modified drum magazine that could hold 50 rounds. joe biden was in new york on thursday touring communities on the front lines of gun

violence. america's murder rate has jumped nearly 30 percent in recent years. at guns sales have swords since the start of the panoramic. in the us more than 30 police officers have been shot so far this year. bye to her new york's police headquarters. where he rejected calls from summon his party to reign in police spending. the answer is not to fund the police. is to give you the tools that training the funding to be partners. that's why i called on the congress to pass a budget later this year that provides cities like new york and others with additional $300000000.00 for community policing. but already the budget of the new york police department, the largest in the us, is $10000000000.00 a year. if we start to finding public safety though, in terms of how much money we spend on police, that's the wrong approach. we should be asking for metrics that measure community

well be, safety, school attendance, employment. all the things that we care about in a neighborhood should be the way we defined safety. not simply how much we're spending on policing or how many officers there are in the city. on thursday president by announced new initiatives to try to slow down gun violence, including the launching 5 illegal gun task force is meant to try to stop the flow of illegal guns traveling between different states. new york's mayor eric adams points to the so called iron pipeline, the name given by law enforcement to a loose connection of highways from the southern us to the northeast, used by gun smugglers to move weapons. we go to break and destroy the i and pipeline that allow southern states in this country to produce weapons that end up on the streets and take the lives of our police officers. a community advocate say biden, and adams policies. just focus on more police. we can over please communities,

particularly the communities of color and think that this is going to be the solution. it's short sighted. it's an old practice impacted that adams the mayor wants to take on. and it really focuses on incarcerating or bringing those policing tactics into mostly communities of color. everyone agrees the violence needs to stop. the question is only how best to do it. gabriel is condo, it new york. ah . hello again, the headlines and i'll just 0 rushes. president detailed what he calls on.