oh, outages nearest max change makers. ah, this is al jazeera ah, hello, i am emily anguish. this is the news our live from doha. coming up in the next 60 minutes. the winter olympics gets underway in beijing, back with diplomatic boycotts and pandemic restrictions. presenting a united front, russia and china say they oppose further expansion of nato. as president of vladimir putin visits by ging, tackling and vaccine inequality,

a south african pharmaceutical company uses modernity data to develop its own a coven. 19 jab, and i'm adarine in northern portugal. home to europe's largest lithium deposits. locals here whose families date back generation say a proposed lithium mine threatens their way of life. ah. we begin in china where president she, jim ping has opened the winter olympics in banking. nearly 3000 athletes are in a strict bible, though because of carver 19. no foreigners are able to watch them compete and there's a diplomatic boy caught in protest against china's human rights record. david stokes reports from you g all him. he couldn't go away for more

after a troubled build up the 24th winter olympics have officially begun in beijing. the venue for friday's opening ceremony was the birds nest stadium originally built for the summer olympics, back in 2008. it's the 1st city ever to host both the winter and summer games. dear fellow olympians, your olympic stage is set you are for i fear after overcoming so many challenges. but vow your moment this come the moment you have been longing for like the tokyo olympics last year. cobit 19 has given these games at different complexion, that taking place inside a closed loop system, keeping competitors and staff away from the general public athletes must get tested for carbon 19 daily. and there were no foreign fans with only a small handpick domestic audience allowed to attend. some of the world's best winter athletes are unable to compete after testing positive. this is much tougher

than injury because you aren't putting yourself out. let's take the risk. it's just the risk is everywhere around us, and i really feel for those athletes, i can't, i can't even imagine how it must be to day 4 years of work and then at the last minute. so had that taken away by something that's out of your control. several world leaders have traveled to beijing for the games, but other nations including the u. s. britain and canada have declared a diplomatic boycott over china's human rights record. specifically, its treatment of muslim wages, china to noise human rights abuses. the people's republic of china is perpetrating a campaign of gross human rights violations, including janet sought over the next 2 weeks as an urgent moral duty to shine a bright light on the many human rights violations being perpetrated by the host nation. beijing 2022 organized as say the games will be carbon neutral. oh, venues will be powered by renewable energy. and 5 of them have been repurposed from 2008,

but with very little snow full. more than 200000000 liters of water have been used to generate fake powder for the alpine locations. let's not be name. you know, artificial snow is used in a consistent way for decades. you oh, in winter competitive sports. what is really important? like for any other activities that there we, we practice is to try to do it in the most efficiently with the lead up to the olympics dominated by politics uncovered 19, most of the athletes will have the focus now shifted to the action as nearly 3000 competitors from 91 nations fight to take home a gold medal. david stokes al jazeera says he had impressed sports correspondence. stephen wade has more on the atmosphere in banking. i was in the 2008 the opening ceremony here. 13 and a half years ago, it was 30 to 33 degrees, sweltering hot pac stadium, 91000 people. right now back and we have maybe 20 or 30000 fans. we're not sure.

maybe 40 percent full and it's below 0. it's one or 2 degrees below 0 here, so it's a very different different atmosphere. and what games of course are much smaller than the summer game. so they're really not not comparable. but paging is the most unlikely. can i have one or lympics but in 2015, 6 european countries who should have had or could have been dropped out too expensive or political problems? yeah. to see what had was left with. not because x on and beijing, they chose beijing, beijing. i think was the more surprising anybody. so the games are here, the run up to the games have been filled with contention. the weaker the genocides is going on in northwestern chin. john, the region here has occupied the press. the chinese have tried to avoid it. they see has tried to avoid the sponsor. they're tried to pretend like they don't see it . i think everybody will be glad like yours or when the games get started, the focus goes on. the athletes and the politics probably will be put aside.

however, it's very possible, it's an athlete term, right, because we have a lot of contention for these 2 and a half weeks while we're bridging. among those at the opening ceremony was roches president of letting me persian moscow. it's here writing relations with the west took center stage as person held talks with his counterpart. she didn't ping in by jane in a joint statement. they said they oppose the expansion of nature and quote, on the lines to ditch what they described as cold war approaches. settling machine, you're doing you through our bilateral relation with their developing, with the spirit of friendship and strategic partnership and have reached an unprecedented level there. an example of upstanding relations which have both sides develop and support each other at the same time. it comes his tensions between keys and moscow show no signs of thawing. russia has massed more than 100000 troops in ne ukraine's border. both countries have also been holding military drills. russia

has offered to beef up it's gas supplies to china. meanwhile, the u. s. and europe have threatened to moscow with unprecedented sanctions. if ukraine is attacked, leisure sewage issues, the issue are all producers prepared a very good solution. hm. hydrocarbons applies to china for today's meeting. and we made another step forward in the gas sector. i mean the new deal to supply china with 10000000000 cubic meters of natural gas from the far east. this is katrina here has been following developments from beijing vladimir putin and she didn't pig standing shoulder to shoulder showing what they describe as an unshakable bond. the leaders of russia and china met ahead of the opening of the winter olympics invade . ching, it's the 1st time president she has met a foreign counterpart in person since the beginning of the pandemic stroke of satan, the true story, or a spirit of friendship and the strategic partnership. her router, the unprecedented levels of jolie is ad there. so she went to olympics 80 years ago,

we promised to meet again. we have kept the promise. the leaders signed a joint statement, presenting a united front on a range of foreign policy issues. they called for nato to end it expansion and for the military alliance to abandon its so called cold war approach. they also denounced the orca security alliance between the united states, britain and australia, and the formation of further blocks in the asia pacific. the statement comes as birth, russia and china experience souring ties with the u. s. and it's western and european allies. but doors, allies are also at odds. they see that the west is not speaking with one voice and i'm has some ah division. so this benefits both russia and china. the visit comes as tensions escalate over the presence of more than $100000.00 russian soldiers on its border with ukraine. washington is threatening to impose tough sanctions on

moscow. should its forces invade? they ging says russia security concerns are legitimate the intention, me, yeah, here is to send a very clear message to the west. that's it. russia has options that russia china relationship is a possible alternative for moscow. and it is not going to be backed into a corner. and leaders are expected to find 15 agreements on issues ranging from trade to technology during putin's visit. russia will increase gas applies to china, and has announced a 30 year contract for a new pipeline between the 2 nations. china already received gas through what's named the power of siberia pipeline that began pumping supplies in 2019 economic support from china could undermine any western method to punish any possible russian incursion into crane. but unless say, an even bigger concern, is it possible deepening a military corporation between moscow and they do?

she didn't being has often spoken of his deep friendship with me. person who is the 1st major leader to confirm his attendance updating winter olympics. the u. s. u k . canada and australia have not sent officials to the vet in protest against china's human rights record. katrina is al jazeera, they drank. germany's chancellor all of shows is expected to fly to russia and ukraine next week. dominic cane has moved from billing there. all those in the media here in germany, but also in the international news media you've been saying, where is all our shops? what's he been up to? why are we not hearing more from him in so far as ukraine is concerned and, and other world crises? well, he is planning lots of different involvement, so we know that on monday of next week he will be in washington, d. c, meeting president joe biden. the german government has slight difficulty in that it

wants to emphasize diplomacy and the threat of sanctions against russia as an act of aggression. and yet it doesn't want to arm the ukrainians. it doesn't want to give weapons to defensive weapons took here. even though they know there are increasingly loud voices coming from key f, asking for precisely that. so it's quite difficult. half that mister schultz and his colleagues are having to, to go down by trying to talk tough to the russian government while stressing the need for diplomacy. and yet also trying to appear like an ally to those in kiev who are asking for weapons which the germans don't want to give them. the president of france is also jew in moscow, and he f. next week natasha butler has more on those visits from paris. the french president emanuel my call, is hoping to use some of his powers of personal persuasion to try and de escalate.

the crisis with russia of ukraine when he arrives in the russian capital on monday to meet of lie to me, putin, the russian leader. now the 2 men had a telephone call on thursday evening. we understand it last, just an hour. and this is the 3rd time that the tooth spoken on the phone in the past few weeks is all part of the french presence efforts to really try and push diplomacy to try and put the european union back at the center of diplomacy. because the li say, are very adamant that this isn't about emanuel macro on a solo mission to moscow representing fraud. this is the manual micro trying to talk to russia on the hall for the european union. france has the rotating presidency of the european union at the moment, and he is traveling to moscow very much on behalf of the e. you, it's worth, also noting that micro will be going to kill just after his meeting with president

putin. no doubt, to brief for lensky, the ukrainian president, on the talk that he had with the russian leader. plenty more head on his knees now, including how india is struggling with coven 19 as death reach a worrying number. and how egypt held to make the final of the african cup of nations. peter will have the towns come in and force india is to say country to report half a 1000000 deaths related to convert 19 after the u. s. and brazil as happening, middle reports from new delhi government ladies are rejecting claims by some health experts that the actual death toll is much higher g then this. ringback is shante can barely speak about what he's experienced. the

social worker has been organizing ambulances for coven 19 patients, and helping families cremate loved ones who they've lost. he was recently awarded in just bought high a civilian off the wooded dba, social media medico, food. i lived the tragedy people witnessed on tv and social media. it was horrendous. one b. i committed $156.00 bodies extra rediscovered unclean bodies every day. people with bad destitute. i saw children bringing the bodies of the parent. india has recorded the death of more than 500000 people from covey 19. but some help experts say the actual toll is in the millions, at least half of these occurred last summer. during a surge of infections fueled by the debt, our variant overwhelmed hospitals ran out of oxygen, and many people died as they were waiting to be admitted. funeral pyres burned across the nation for days, and some families lined up for hours to cremate their dead. in the northern states

with their predation be hard, hundreds of bodies were found floating in the river ganges and buried by its banks . the government denies claimed the debt all is being under reported india and has used in excessively stringent definition of wonderful condensers. and this leaves no room for things like a person who died without a positive aspect of it, because some guns to become good. as uncle manette, several states have recently devised their tallies, caroline, sudden india has increased, its debt, told the most by 20000 over 3 months. and part of the correction is in our being in recognizing that up to a month after the debt deb off per month after coven admission. if the debt is linton and his with this would be eligible to be counted as a covered debt. so all of this has actually resulted in a whole range of reconciliation of debts and therefore we see the numbers are going

up in the recent times which seems a little artificial. while the numbers of people infected by the omicron varying to have broken records in many states, hospital admissions and deaths have remained relatively low. experts credit that to my the symptoms and patients with the variant more than 75 percent of the entire adult population being fully vaccinated. and most children above 15 ring partially innoculated exports and asking the government to expand vaccinations and boosters to protect people against future variance. poverty midville al jazeera u jolly. russia meanwhile has again registered a record breaking number of corona virus infections. as the only con, variance spreads on friday, more than 168000 new cases were recorded in the preceding 24 hours. 682 deaths were reported. the country is not considering locked downs despite the

search a south african pharmaceutical company has designed, developed, and produced the 1st a marinez cove at 19 vaccine on the african continent. the move by african is part of a world health organization project to support poor countries to develop their own vaccines. average in used publicly available information to copy the sequence of the magenta m r in a job and developed its own vaccine. wealthy nations have bought up most of the world's vaccine supply. while the vaccination right, in low income countries is about 5 percent. petro to blanche is the managing director of african. she says the breakthrough will have an impact beyond the pandemic. scott, at 19 is the catalyst. we building and demonstrating capacity and capability as we've just done with this 1st vaccine production. although at glasgow, we will be in both capacity and both process is to also look at the t

b lesser fever and other diseases of relevance in low low and middle income countries. pulling this capacity and capability will empower, learn to link up countries to produce their vaccines. we will not receiving tick technology transfer. we had to develop this on our own, which is good for the team. the fact that we had the opportunity to forward invite working from the sequence, which is great because that is a learning exercise that builds substance. the other point is that we were moving much faster than would we would have moved. it was if it, if there was a technology transfer. so in a way we grateful that we had to move and, and empower ourselves. we are looking for support on this kind of and we are getting fantastic technical support across the globe from organizations who have already done some skyler. and we believe that in the next 6 months, we will scale up and we will produce a gmp is good manufacturing,

practice vaccine ready for clinical trials. and that is the savings that east african and we have to demonstrate as an outback seen, meets the quality and safety and efficacy standards of the best vaccines in the world. madonna, by on take that to the general public wolf support. receiving a vaccine which is localized in africa for africa. southeast asian countries, a welcoming bank, vaccinated international tourist. this month thailand is resuming a quarantine free entry program in the philippines who do the same next, wink. jessica washington reports from the information island of bali where direct flights have restarted for the 1st time in almost 2 years. the not a long beach near valley southern coast is a popular spot assessing and dining this couple among the few foreign tours already. oh my god i i thought about this place

many so many times tell people so incredible. it's relatively quiet, but that may change soon. but let us know, i really want to see barley like how it was before back to normal. late last year, indonesia allowed tourists to travel to valleys. if they quarantine in the capital to kind of know international, direct lines to barley have redeemed. for the 1st time in almost 2 years. oh, visitors must complete 5 days ho quarantine. but they won't be confined to their rooms in the hotel. they can use any facilities. and the hotels had we have, i had a dresser on the pool with the beads, despite perhaps others southeast asian countries are also trying to attract foreign visitors again. but unlike indonesia,

thailand and the philippines have no quarantine requirements. the highly anticipated reopening of folly comes as covert 19 cases rise again in indonesia. but authorities say they anticipated the increase and are better prepared. none. president joker widow says indonesia hospitals and health workers are reading bucket, overshadowed by the pandemic. if the said too soon to say whether the reopening will be a success? well, i think the regions in a state of flux, we've been waiting almost 2 years. there's been a big period of uncertainty locked downs. people have tried to open and hasn't worked out tourism officials in bali said the island has had enough time to prepare for international visitors. and we want to show the outside world. the valley is very much ready to success of the reopening depends on whether the following tours

feel the same way just to washington out of here. so africa now and the european union has blacklisted molly's transitional prime minister and members of interim president. see me go in his in circle the block kit 5 individuals entitle with travel bands and asset phrases. they include molly's top, military leaders who were behind a coup in main. multiple sanctions were imposed last month by west africa as a regional organization. eco was after the military june to delight elections until 2025 for more on the store. let's bring in parents mccully, who's a former us ambassador to molly. he's in washington state. thanks for being on the news. our parents. so top members of molly's ruling, june to have been sanctioned, but not the in from president. so is this assignment dialogue is still an option. thanks will. yes, i think dialogue certainly is still an option and that's the preferred course of

action by both echo wash in the international community. as you said, the european sanctions are a sign of rationing up the pressure, but simply follow with the africans have done themselves. parents of a master to prompt the military regime to return to civilian rule and hold those elections sooner than 2025 or does more need to be done. well, i think the international community and echo was in the african union need to keep up the pressure on initially agreed as you would stated, presidential elections as this month of every 27. the echo was african union. molly's international partners that have all said that 5 years is too long. there needs to be a rapid return to constitutional. and molly, one of the biggest concerns from molly security, but it seems a lot more focused on democracy. what do you see is the biggest threat somalian? well, clearly security is, is an important issue. and, you know, there's been a french from extremists in the north for 4 years in molly. but the 2

are intertwined with restoration of a constitutionally constitutional government backed by the molly and people as it is important prerequisite to addressing the security issue and allowing the military and molly's international partners to support the battle against extremist and parents. as recently as yesterday, the eco was chairman, i believe it was described the crews in west africa as contagious. what did you make of those comments? well, it demonstrates the concern. we've seen a crew in guinea. we've seen the recent to and for keener fossil the attempted to and getting to south. it's a succession of tax on, on democratically elected governments constitutional rules. and create a critical mass of military governments, which is a great concern of both to the african union jack wash and africa partners while we

enter national. sorry to cut you off there, but we're running out of time. we appreciate your insights. fair. terrans mccully, former us ambassador to molly, thanks for being on this. thank you. still head to elm al jazeera. how campaigning, the columbia is a general election is being overshadowed by a surgeon violence attack. it's bombed and right now we've got the action from the slides to the beijing winter olympics later ah, all the time these winter storms keep going across from eastern med to iran and there's one going through. now we tend to get a shemelle blowing for 24 hours saturdays, no exception. it's got a dusty one. you'll see the orange plume here,

which means it will be picked up in eastern saudi bahrain, properly cut on and spread out in the empty quarter. saudi arabia optically coal, one attempt to still run about 20, maybe $25.00. you're lucky. in doha, he shall still to be blown into the event. and so plenty shower in north mirand snow might fall into run, but probably not. but certainly will be near by more significantly in northern afghanistan just far north of pakistan during sunday. by which time the shemelle still blowing as drop attempt should have been more in doha, but no being no more dust with it. more significant winds are these. with that, sir, i equivalent category for hurricane this is a 125 kilometers per hour winds at landfall on saturday afternoon. this is a damaging storm. bringing with it storm surge flooding rains and already 15 meter ways. he goes across madagascar and reappears in the water during sunday. west of all that there's still plenty of big shower,

not the same degree. there are fewer than they were though in southern africa. ah, from international politics to the global pandemic. and everything in between. it did not respect poor people and pure our planet promised to ensure the safety of women. what happened just the 15th, i pulled back that people actually have more feel. why is the u. k, so hostile to transfer the mystery to all of us? join me if i take on the live this man with the misconceptions and debate the contradiction. carmen get up front on al jazeera. we understand the differences and similarities of cultures across the world. so no matter what, when used in current calls that matter to you on counting the cost threats of sanctions again and the crane stand off thought, well, they've really bite europe's energy supplies of the cross hairs that could fill the

gap at the world. trade organization supports china against the west. is beijing willing? counting the cost on al jazeera lou . ah, ah. hello, you're watching out here. i'm emily angland, a reminder of our top stories. the salam, the 24th winter olympics, has officially begun begging, as the 1st city to host both the summer and winter olympics. but the build up has been dominated by close at 19 restrictions and diplomatic bear boycotts. the games are happening as tensions over ukraine are high between russia and the west. russian president vladimir putin, ethan china,

moscow and beijing say they oppose and nato expansion and accused of cold war approaches. and the european union has blacklisted molly's transitional prime minister and members of interim president to see me go. it is in a circle. it's in response to the military, john, to the decision, to delay elections until 2025. that's returned to russian president vladimir puritans visit to china as tensions over ukraine. remain, hein? to matri? babich is a political analyst for the russian news media company where z. savannah joins us live from moscow to matri. thanks for being on the program. the relationship between moscow and beijing is strong now. what's in it for both of them? well, i think basically both countries are based in the same gen and the same danger i would say, for all whether not the state and the other western countries. this is

a very unfortunate development, roger didn't wanted trying to didn't want bought as we know from history coleman threats. a real rep unites various nations better than any one of them, any form of life. and as you mentioned, but it's not just a shared interest in resisting washington, although that is a major factor. what are some of the other things that are apply? he well, as you see, washington to be you in their rectory. they are using russia and china trying to a back neighbor in congress all taken back to that historically it belonged to the russian or the chinese and bias. in fact, the russia in china peaceful congress. and this is the stress on these was made an appointment statement made by president who didn't m c. and when you asked me why

rushing china are interested in each other, because our economy and our political explorations are complimentary. russia has natural resources, sincerity. china has a cheap labor technologist and, and he can only mark on the other hand, chinese, inferior to the states allies in the pacific military. and here, russia and russia's budget these 18 times smaller than needed to budget on the night the fates. and if you would be an hour mark, we have the means that can use, wait a grass. the rama taken up. this is something that both russia and china are in the interest of balance. you know, some would argue that they're not peaceable countries with allegations of human rights abuses being leveled on both countries. however, that aside, how concerned should washington and the west be about these strengthening relations?

well, i think washington, as you should just gained the airport, it's just one same time as the native meetings and the various other, you know, you've added in the west, they openly full russia or style nation and they all been called beijing olympics. the rules that fix these are insults, by the way, in russia and china, we don't use such expressions, you know, when you, when we're talking about the west side, the west, but usually north. so well, the internal hall is just all the way up for its aggressive approach to our country . so i think that in that statement that he made it very interesting that they stressed that only the peoples on russia, china, and other sort of congress. all these people can decide which you will receive the best that should not be a single motor. well, you more for everybody,

and i think china historically has the right to its own box. because we know that the, even the west of the main thing about the petition is being the last in china. it's being useful. you know that the system over exams, the whole political system we're trying to, historically, it was not to make and petitions, but to make them useful. choosing the best, not. who can make the best impressions for those who are the best, all the people about all the sudden sphere in which these but if you can, sorry, i guess we can very rough idea of respect for that. i guess one thing we can agree on is that certainly this relationship is one that is very powerful. we appreciate your insights. dimitri babich, a political analyst out of most great, thanks for your time. northern islands, high court says checks on food from grant wishon should remain in place for now

that suspends an order from a minister to halt customs checks. the european union says that move breached the northern island protocol and agreement between westminster and brussels, signed back in 2022, implement works it. it's aimed at avoiding border checks between at northern island and the republic of islands. to write this all down for us, let's bring in it, brian fanny, who's a political commentator and joining us live now from val belfast in no than island . thank you for being on the program, bryan. this certainly is a really complex issue. so break it down for us. do the democratic unionist party later or does the democratic union lady laid a party and dancing straight? wants a new rex. it deal? fort northern island? well, very much. so i mean the, the d u p are the largest party. they have always opposed the protocol and they believe it cuts the north of ireland all from the rest of the u. k. and

create a border within the u. k. so they want to be removed and the british government also wants to protocol changed because they didn't realize it at the time i seriously affected was going to house. and since last september, the d u. p. have been threatening to put on the executives. if the protocol wasn't radically changed or indeed removed, which is what they really want. and that didn't happen there because he hasn't been successful. and the leader of the d u. p kept making these threats and come to the point where if he hadn't carried the money, it was going to be a laughingstock. so that's what happened yesterday and they pulled on the executive . well, there are many local set of implications to this. one of the international implications if the northern and protocol is well, you made it very clear that they, they did this in mid

a clear in november. but if british act unilaterally and scrapper protocol, then the you will scrap the whole trade in cooperation. arrangement that was signed in 2020 and that is resulted in the british pulling back from a very aggressive and belligerent negotiating. they were carry like 2021. and there is a deal of complicity between the british and the d u p. because last year, the british were if you like, weapon ising, that the u p's opposition, and really justifying their opposition to the protocol. to such an extent that last year in the united states formally reprimanded the british for as the, the british charge it up for london, said 4 and failing tensions in ireland. so that the british shampooed back from that position in december. i'm not looking for a day,

but they weren't going to get one. and the reason that the db pull the executive done yesterday was last week, the leader of the party met forest johnson, the british prime minister. and johnson totally. we thought there was a less than 30 percent chance that they would get a radical change in the protocol. and if they didn't get it later, the d p. austin, do walk away unilaterally on johnson did not given that commitment. so they decided to pulled. i pulled on the executive yesterday even by sons and signed the day with the u. s. mention. and he since trying to remember, he must be in some ways welcoming the day. you pay needs to scott the agreement. well, they are, the british are not admitting that, but in fact, there don't seem to agree of collusion between the british government or that the u . p. a certainly search the british top of it to be able to say to the you're,

look, this is called again, stability of the northern ireland does meant the collapse of local devolution. and if we don't get something radical done, then there's no likelihood of an executive being re established after an election. so to, to a degree, and it does help the british government. it helps. and if you're like weaponized union opposition to the protocol. but the protocol can go away, it is going away as an international treaty and it's difficult to see what can be achieved because he has made it clear to the british. if they are human laterally than the whole trade and cooperation agreement collapses is fine. that was my next question in some ways, as we've mentioned, this is very much about local politics in know the island with the 1st minister quitting in the like and post scheduled for may. but as you just mentioned, if breaking, if, if they break this protocol, they're breaking international law and there will be international ramifications. no doubt, they're willing to data. and i think one of the reasons the british pulled back

from their belligerent position last year was the arrival of minute michael, as the european president this year micro has been very, very strong against the british. and it isn't just about the protocol, it's about large numbers of migrants going across the, the english channel relations between france and britain have been very poor. and my call has been very strong and defending the protocol and demanding that the british live up to their international obligations. well, we appreciate you breaking it down for us, which is quite a complex issue. thank you very much, brian fanny, a political candidate at us know the 9 and thank you time where she teams in morocco say they are close to saving a 5 year old boy. her fell into a date well 3 days ago. tv view is can watch the rescue operation live. these are live pitches. as a large crowd is watching on to emergency cruise,

a working frantically to reach the boy who's 32 maces underground. but they working in soft soil and a collapse of the well is one of their fees fighting between arrival level groups in columbia is making it impossible for politicians to campaign for next month. congressional elections for the 1st time voting includes so called a special electoral districts for pace created under the fact pe still, but the turf wars are overshadowing the political campaign for power alexandro ramp . yes, he is covering this story for us and is it live for us in a row kind of region in columbia? alexandra talk us to re how this violence is compromising election campaigns, but also impacting civilians who are obviously caught in this horrific and deadly crossfire. absolutely, emily,

the security situation here has been worsening since the beginning of the year as the conflict between these 2 arm groups as been intensifying and worst of all those that these groups have been targeting civilians. people that the either c as sympathizers of the other group or, or that they see as obstacles towards the gaining control and influence control of the listed activities in this region. being the drug trafficking routes contraband between columbia venezuela. we're very close to the border here and the situation had just become worse and worse. and the last few weeks, more than 60 people have been killed. many in cold blood that there have been at least the tree, their friends to bomba vaccine, different towns in this region. and this has also appended that political campaigns of for congress that will happen next. the march

farmer and congressional candidates. joanne ega leaders live the horror of columbus conflict. first hand a local victims leader. he's running for office for a special electoral dis, for peace created to give a voice to under represented people like him. but the return of violent confrontation between arm groups in alca has made campaigning impossible vision. if there were some we are just sitting still trying to work in the village, talking to friends, knocking on doors when possible. more than 60 people have been killed since the beginning of the year in a conflict between 11 rebels and dissident groups of former 5 gravels. we had planned to follow giovanni, handing out flyers and visiting a perspective voter. but as we were leaving, he had a change of heart. but he said, yeah, when i was, i don't think we should, it would be a nice thing for me to take you around town and be on the news telling people what

my plan is. what i want to do if i win, but right now will put us at risk the little campaigning that is happening is limited to the main urban center. that's because all candidates are saying it's just too dangerous to travel to rural areas, even on main roads like this one. because the groups are known to set up checkpoints at any time. the situation is also affecting regular candidates. older cassidy's was running for a traditional seat in the house of representatives has campaigned, in alca for years, in this momentum that we are putting our lives in the crossfire to campaign and we accept silencing ourselves and confinement to try to sustain democracy. but in man he says, the situation is as bad as at the height of the conflict. he's running most of his campaign on social media. go. yeah, it was organizing a meeting in for tool is impossible. going to the town of life, where i was

a teacher and getting 4050 people together, also impossible. the local human rights official says political and social leaders have become the main targets of the arm groups and a pop in bo. on paper, everything is great. the government is fulfilling its obligation to the victims who can vote on these elections, but the reality on the ground is the opposite. on people can't exercise their rights. with only running a political campaign in the conflict ridden region like her, alca was never easy. but this time was supposed to be different. instead, threats in attacks or once again silencing dis, already marginalized voices. now the columbian government has increase for the military presence in the area, but that as the little so far to improve the security conditions and many villages that remain essentially confined and under the control of these on groups that

have expanded the server environment of terror. and the feeling here is that this confrontation, this new conflict, will continue for a long time. all right, we appreciate your report. thank you very much. alexandra ramp. yes. he in columbia . they want you home is set to decide whether to give the go ahead for europe's largest lithium mine. it seen as a vital mineral in the fight against climate change because it's used to make batteries for electric vehicles. but local people fear the mind could cause lasting environmental damage. as adam rainy reports, ida fernandez and her family have been stewards of this corner of northern portugal for 5 generations. a cattle farmer, she's convinced a proposed lithium mine if approved, would destroy her livelihood, and flicker mighty springs must have failed. we rely on our end perimeter of the

proposed mind. it is not green and is not sustainable. it is not going to benefit us. and it is going to destroy one more region, rich and water, and pure air and nature and biodiversity. the us food and agricultural organization has declared this area, but also a globally important agricultural heritage site for the blend of grazing and sustainable farming. the wider area is also home to europe, the largest lithium reserves, a metal key for producing electric car batteries. electric cars are crucial to phasing out fossil fuels and can help europe reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. it's estimated the mind footprint would be $270.00 hector's. besides about $375.00 football fields every year, the mine would produce enough lithium for up to $600000.00 cars. and over 12 years that would result in a reduction of a 100000000 tons of c o. 2 from the atmosphere. climate change is

a huge challenge and to the carbon as economy, we need to get him for our electric vehicles. but that has a cost and we want to minimize it by excluding the areas where social and environmental impact is considerable. if they made a little bit, pete is doesn't feel she's on the cusp of environmental revolution. she points to where the minds perimeter would be and you've been the worry about the destruction . it could cause any ruining our lives where he in a little corner of the world that they're going to damage opposition to the mine, run strong signs against it. like this one are found across the community. that's despite the promise of jobs and a region people continue to leave behind in search of opportunities. we spoke to the company waiting for approval from the environmental agency. our plans will have 0 impact on the last styles or practices of farmers in the region. i think you know, millions of european town and city dwellers are really trying to appreciate the,

the transformation. but electric mobility will make to the quality of life in the cities of europe. government officials point out the environmental and strategic benefit of mining lithium in europe. and if our objective is to be f, the final, as we can, then i good way to start using those materials which are not source properly outside of europe, and europe has the opportunity to do it in a sustainable way. my dea, loretto isn't convinced she fernandez show us where mining samples were excavated, laredo says, shall lose some of her land to the mine and that what remains will be contaminated in some not we're not the ones polluting the environment lead, the ones polluting pe, the book not us a sentiment shared by many who fear they'll pay the price for europe's green energy . adarine al jazeera and northern portugal. still ahead on al jazeera, the message for athletes on human rights protests. as the winter olympic gangs

begin in by jing pay to has all those details next in sport. ah. ah

ah hole. ah ha. it's time now for sport. he is peter. thank you. emily. a locked down beijing winter olympics has been launched against the backdrop of diplomatic boycotts over how china treats millions of its own people. the athletes ability to speak up for human rights has been discussed in the build ups of the games and role and big

rules. no political protests can take place on the field of play or podium, but in theory, athletes can say what they like to the media. top us politician, nancy pelosi has warned athletes, the focus on the sports rather than risk angering the chinese government. at the head of the u. s. and the committee says they'd be no outright ban on american athletes speaking out we didn't issue warnings and we didn't issue proclamations. we simply provided information to them and explained that you know, whether laws of the country or cultures or norms of the country or the environment, and that we find ourselves in the olympic games is a time for us to come together in the spirit of sportsmanship and the olympic values and we, you know, we promote that with real sincerity. away from the opening ceremony. there's been action for a couple of days in some events. now. the us has taken the lead off to the opening

day of the team figure skating, winning performances from nathan chain and ice dances, madison hubble, and zachary donahue. with them to points clear of the tea from russia. we've also seen the 1st action on the slopes with qualification rounds in the mo, gold's earlier we spoke to full time winter olympian shami. old courts who says despite heavy covert 19 restrictions, the athletes will just be happy to fight for a middle. in the end of the day, everyone just wants to, to compete and they understand that there's a close that out there. i mean, the pictures i seen a kind of crazy when i, when the food whole it was all about socializing and it was really promoted to talk to other olympians. and now you've got your plastic almost clock one meter by one meter next to you to just make sure that everyone is safe as possible. and you know, these are big sacrifices to make in terms of your experience and you're getting from the game. but the, the end of the day we are getting an olympics and i think that's the most important

thing. there's always a chance that your dreams ripped apart at the last minute from injury. this is, this is not tough of an injury because you aren't putting yourself out. let's take the risk. it's just, the risk is everywhere around us. and i really feel for those athletes, i can't, i can't even imagine how it must be to be 4 years of work. and then at the last minute to have that taken away by something that's out of your control. and there's no natural snow in the mountain region. it officials know there's been a lot of press about this. but actually over the last decade, sky races have used artificial snow on numerous occasions, more often than not in races. so it is something that can be used to skiing on. it's very cold yesterday was minus 21 in the mountain region. so the snow is super, super aggressive. it's really, really compress colds. now it's not the melt freeze overnight. they may look at getting it later on the games we've had with chemicals to make it kind of more ice

light and less griffey. it's very feeling base. this picks val, plans, gig is not about force or aggression. it's all about the feel that we know test the bad. none of the athletes have skied it before. it's a level playing field for everyone. we were slightly nervous about the downhill. it's on the ribbon event and we want to say exciting won't be challenged. the athlete in every to down to one that's a time see, technical and gliding. and that was a bit of worry about how this track would be. but we've had t training on say far on the medicine i and all the reviews are really positive, like the best austrian ski is in the world of saying this downhill is worthy of the lympics. and we didn't have that 4 years ago in korea because the nature of the terrain. so it's really, really positive. i mean, i'm just, i was just talking about i'm so excited to see this and it's historic in so many ways 2 of the world's best footballers will face each other in the final of the

africa cup of nations on sunday. bahamas salas, egypt will play senegal, and he's liverpool. teammates aria manet after egypt beat hosts. cameroon. in the semi's, a frustrating goldstraw at full time ended with egypt coach carlos kiddos, receiving a sick and yellow guard for badgering the officials and being st. oh, he missed extra time and the penalty shootout cameron missing 3 from the spots the same 7 time champions egypt into the final. it was a pay back off the camera in beating for the title in 2017. and this is what i meant to fans on the streets of egypt and city of desert, just outside cairo. so egypt, we're going to fund a fun looking to extend their report run of titles, but also when they're 1st title since 2010 the ally clippers have beaten the lakers by a point in an n b, a thriller making a 5 straight winds over they cross town rivals. there were 5 lead changes in the

final 63 seconds of the game. anthony davis with the lake is up 11109. he finished the night with 30 points, but with 4 seconds to go. reggie jackson made this lay up to put the clippers back out in front. davis went from hero to 0, as he missed a jump shot that would have won the game for the lakers. the clippers taking this 1111110. we just over a week away from the biggest sporting event in the u. s. american footballs super bowl. the cincinnati bengals will take on the los angeles rams for the vince lombardi, trophy at the so fi stadium in california, the bangles end of the team street of 31 years without a playoff when the season and pulled up a late fight back to beat the kansas city chiefs to the a f c championship. but much of the talk around the big event has been allegations of racism by former miami head coach brian flores. he swimming the nfl

and 3 teams, claiming their hiring practices are racist. having been overlooked for several positions, he interviewed for the teams, deny the allegations. flores says he hopes his lawsuit will help increase the number of black, general managers, head coaches and co ordinators you know, you go 31 owners. 32 honors were you know, people come to see to players and, you know, players and his league or on a majority, you know, black in us american. so, you know, it's is huge for, you know, to clear the speaker for me or, you know, i always wanted to be, or i always wanted to do, you know, things are football. you know, after my career is over, we're in that just that just gives me an extra incentives to, um, you know, to become a gentleman, you know, becoming a for alpha. so, you know, i can, i can change things for the better. okay. that's what was false is enough. i'll have another up that a little bit later on. emily. thank you very much, peter. and that's it for me for this news. alan,

don't go anyway. we'll have more of the day's news. anna, val, at london bureau in just a moment, stay with us. ah, ah. stories of life and inspiration a series of short document trees from around the world that celebrate the human spirit. against the odds with

al jazeera, select change makers with o t boxes from the street to chicago on different paths with the same ambition. oh, fighting their way to a better life for themselves and their families. 6 6 6 live in the volatile world of chicago, south side is no easy task. witness.

ring sight on al jazeera ah, revealing eco friendly solutions to combat threats to our planet. on al jazeera ah all eyes on bay jing as the 2022 winter olympics officially opens, is all sized questioning of china's corona virus response. and it's human rights record. ah, hello i, mariam, noisy and london. you're watching al jazeera, also coming up on the program, presenting a united front, the chinese and russian leaders commit to a strongest strategic relationship response to sorry.