a al jazeera english proud recipient of the new york festivals broadcaster of the year award for the 5th year running. ah, the u. s. and nato say there are still no signs that russian troops of pulling back from ukraine's borders despite moscow's claims. oh, oh, a day of national unity in ukraine and defiance of a looming france of a russian attack. ah, hello, i'm not madison. this is audra 0 alive from doha also coming up.

devastating floods and mud slides ripped through brazil's imperial city patropolis killing more than 90 people like sand castles in its su nami, one doctor describes hong kong, devastating 5th covered wave. that's pushed hospitals to breaking point. and in search of a better life, trying to integrate defectors from north korea into society in the south. ah, the u, as a nato say rushes out, a more troops around ukraine. and there's no evidence of a pull back despite moscow's claims. nato secretary general jen stoughton berg says, the alliance will now look at boosting its forces in central and eastern europe from brussels. ne voc begins our coverage fis bumper diplomacy as defense chiefs of nato countries, including the u. s. and germany arrive the lines headquarters to strengthen their

stance on russia and pour over the latest intelligence. and this is what they've been looking at. a russian defense ministry video claiming to show a partial pull back of forces from near ukraine. the kremlin says combat equipment and treats were leaving the crimea inflow seas from kia in 2014 and returning to base. but nato secretary general was quick to dismiss. any talk de escalation of tensions. we do not see any sign of the escalation on the ground, nor withdrawals of troops or equipment. this may of course change. however, what we see to day is that russia maintains a massive invasion force ready to attacked with high end capabilities from crimea to but are us strong words to from european union chiefs in strasburg, urging moscow to come to the negotiating table. lou schwab was ordered the choice

to days between war and tragic sacrifices that would go along with it or the courage of a political engagement, a courage of a diplomatic negotiation. very clearly, european union chooses diplomacy and chooses negotiation. we will demonstrate discourage york. there was little sign of any russian troop withdrawals in belarus on wednesday. this another show of military muscle for the cameras joint exercises would bella, russian troops, only deepening fears, a neighboring ukraine that had invasions imminent, on the land. and in the air, nato says russia has reached full combat readiness. whether raise a shred of hope. in recent days, russia has signal that it will be willing to join talks about door remains open, do too much. and nato runs the risk of being drawn into a long, protracted stand off with russia due to little. and it runs the risk of a possible invasion in ukraine. something that could destabilized the whole of

europe. russia is creating a new normal, said salt and berg by using force to contest the principle of serenity in europe. the alliance, he said, must respond possibly with a new nato battle group in romania. the hope of an easy end to the stand off is fast fading. the falcon al jazeera brussels, has been a cyber attack on ukraine's defense ministry, and it's the worst the countries seen. the government suspects russia may have been behind it, a claim the kremlin denies, and a show of defiance against a potential invasion ukraine held a national day of unity, a 200 metre long flag was carried through the olympic stadium and give elsewhere. presidents loaded mister lensky, attended military drills by this day was the day western intelligence services had suggested that russia was likely to attack my march law bullock in accord. which way we're seeing a large concentration of troops. it hasn't change of the last week. we're seeing some small rotations, but i wouldn't call these rotations of pullback of russian troops. cars that right

there. we will confirm the pullback of russian troops once it happens and once a short period of time passes after the number of groups of military forces and hardware decreases at those parts of the border. he charged harvard reports now from caught cave on how a small but patriotic gathering marked unity day. oh, oh, upon us, young brothers fate shall yet smile. our enemies will perish liked you. in the morning, some words of the ukrainian national anthem o koya was national dress of the ceremony in a park in the eastern city of call give the gathering was held to mark what the ukrainian president volota me zalinski called a day of unity. the flag was raised from half mast soldiers stood to attention after the national anthem, a singer trying to rouse the crowd with

a popular song about morale and peace. but only a few people came to watch. after posing for photographs to quiet, began to leave joseph for the unity of our country. they want to be united. we want to be very united near by outside the tent where for years people have signed up for the army and donated money. opposed to of the russian president and his better rouge and ally and fellow neighbor of ukraine. but the city is calm. but when it's quiet as usual, is just the normal routine day people whacking children at school. i don't know what will be will be. i am not worried. there is no point in worry method on a day when you as intelligent services predicts a possible russian evasion of ukraine show of unity here in eastern city of car, give us

a small group of people. and their message is that ukraine remains unified against what they in the government and their western back. assaye is russian aggression. char stratford, al jazeera, called kiff rushes for the monasteries, mocked western media for labeling, widens day invasion day dawson. nobody has more of a moscow. we've been hearing statements coming out from the foreign ministry spokeswoman, who said that it really this is not something this country take seriously because of course they have no intention of invading ukraine. this was that a weekly briefing of the foreign ministry where as this spokeswoman said, that's a really, it's a rhetoric and it's hysteria that is created by the western media. let's listen to some more of what she had to say. oh, yakobelli. weaker crises kicks, mute. there is a space on the u. s. state departments. website that used to publish stories about the so called russian fake or use our please publish stories about your own faith williamson graded by your american media. if you need examples,

i shall send you some desk of and may be for the 1st time in human history, the so called aggressor, which the west appointed russia to be on the so called victim, which ukraine is being described as are both denying everything that is being reported marie, certainly vladimir put has made it very clear that he is not going to invade ukraine, but he does want to have a conversation with his u. s. counterpart president joe biden, about the security concerns that he has about nato's further expansion with hospitals and testing facilities in hong kong, buckling under the pressure of a major covered 90. no break. the worst since the pandemic began with beds filled to capacity that are reports, the patients have been treated and make shift open air spaces. the territory reported us record of nearly $4300.00 cases on wednesday, and 40 times higher than the daily rate of the start of the month. and an increase in truck drivers,

testing positive is causing food. delivery delays and hong kong prices of fresh fruit and vegetables of surged in some parts of the city, hong kong in ports 90 percent of its food as go live to brooklyn. it was outside a hospital in hong kong, britain, the situations with the hospitals still as bad as they were they are indeed in fact this hospital in the shop shop ho district is overwhelmed. dozens of people are outside right behind me, lying on hospital beds, sitting in wheelchairs waiting for a hospital bed inside. many of these people are elderly. they're sitting in the cold. it is rainy, it is windy, and these are hong kong, most vulnerable residents. this is the situation indicating that capacity is still a huge problem. now the hospital authority, they apologized for this very situation, say they feel bad,

that this is the circumstance, but we are seeing it again today, indicating that indeed there is an issue of a hospital beds inside these facilities. now under hong kong, dynamic cove is 0 policy. they are calling it. this is the situation. this is the result that is happened. any one who tests positive the cove it even if you are a symptomatic. even if you have mild symptoms, you are required to come to a hospital or go to a quarantine facility. now in order to cope with, the surge authorities are looking at turning student accommodation, hotels, and even housing estates into quarantined facilities. there's also talks of perhaps building a makeshift hospital like the one we saw in wu han at the very start of the pandemic . they are also designating $300.00 taxes to be isolated transportation taxes to take people from their homes,

whether isolating through facilities already. hospitals like this one, britain are much pressures or from the chinese central government in beijing on hong kong to try to keep this under control. a lot of pressure, the chinese president sheet mpeg has indicated issuing a read directive that hong kong officials must take all necessary steps to contain this virus. he said that authorities should earnestly assume responsibility and make controlling this outbreak the overriding task of the city. he also said that it's important for social stability that this outbreak is abroad under control. now carry land, the chief executive of hong kong. thank you, jim. paying for his concern and vowed to unite all hong kong people to combat this outbreak. and now bating has also offered some help in terms of supplies, man, power and medical expertise as well. hong kong vaccination rates,

though it must be said, only hover around 30 percent when you're looking at the elderly population. so that's also causing a lot of concern here. the authorities have so far rolled out a kind of city wide locked down like the ones we've seen across the board and see on. but a lot of specialists have said that something like that is required if we really are going to go back down to 0. but certainly the message from beijing is stay on this no tolerance approach to cov id 0. however, there is growing criticism of seems like this, with many people saying that authorities had 2 years to bring this thing under control and to prepare for an outcome like today. and it's just not good enough that old people are being, wait, are being told to wait out in the cold and conditions like this outside of hospitals waiting for space inside the facilities. brit, thanks very much. shits brit clena talking to us from hong kong. south korea's corona virus cases of exceeded 90000 for the 2nd straight day. the recent outbreak

of sunni sharp rise and critically ill patients. at least 389 people are in the intensive care unit. that's an increase of 76 and the past day people have been urged to get a 4th vaccine short. still ahead on al jazeera, we're going to look at claims of genocide from the russian president. and what washington sees as a pretext for military action and beefing up price is how argentinians are struggling with inflation. ah, ah, look forward to brighter skies the weather sponsored by cattle a ways welcome to your world's weather update for the middle east and africa. nice to see you beginning in the middle east stains in the la vance, a bit more. cloud covers starting to drift in here. but for the gulf states, things are looking good. we go in for a closer look at the wind picking up just

a little bit. nothing major though has got a high of 24 degrees off the pockets. don things are settled here. they see a few showers sneaking around the hor, with the height of 19 degrees, and same goes for western areas of iran over the higher ground for turkey. it's a calm pitcher that suns out in istanbul with the hiv 12 degrees, but again we could see more clouds filter and here the central portions of africa, we've got a belt of heat stretching from june about 40 degrees freight to buddha in nigeria. come in at 38, but our concentrated rain really falling further toward the south. here's our remnants, our leftovers of what was the tropical cyclone in the moves and b channel that eventually going to move in to move. and you can bring some flooding, rains, and more what, what, what weather for flood stricken areas of eastern south africa. but we've got to focus on madagascar 3 storms in 3 weeks. and look at this, we've got one to that potentially could steer into madagascar in the days to come.

we'll keep you posted on that. see soon take care. oh, the weather. sponsored by katara always joined the debate fate. a racer of black people from the american and global story was very powerful on an online your voice . the comment section is right join our conversation. we are all protected when everyone is protected. it is not being nationalistic about this. you just look at it in a very different way, not perspective, men and men meeting each other and they don't have any solution. let me put it clear for you this dream on. now just 0, ah ah,

he was, you know, does either a reminder of our top stories, this or the head of nato says the alliance will look at boosting its forces in eastern europe, western powers, believe russian troops are still building up around ukraine. in the show divines against a potential invasion, ukraine has held a national day of unity widened. state was the day russia was reported a likely to attack hong kong hospitals have become overwhelmed with torpid. 19 patients son can be seen in beds outside because it's too crowded in doors on kong liter carry lamps as hospitals and clinics are struggling to cope. rushes opened a criminal probe into what it's calling ill treatment of the civilian population in ukraine, following them discovery of mass graves in the countries east. last year, president vladimir putin has said that genocide is taking place there against russian speakers. but the u. s. says the claim is based on lies and it's a pretext for invasion and a chappelle reports. russia's investigative committee says this is an image of

a mass grave. the bodies of 295 civilians killed by ukrainian forces has carried out indiscriminate shelling in 2014 other unaided photos broadcast on stevie are said to show more atrocities. they sit with president putin's narrative about what is happening to the russian speaking population in ukraine's east coast. them quickly because in our assessment and what is happening now in the dumbass constitutes in genocide on the u. s. has called the claim a reprehensible falsehood. we are particularly concerned about present imprudent and other russian officials. they're ongoing mentions of quote unquote, genocide and the dawn bass. there is no basis of truth to any of these allegations. these are false narratives that russia is developing for use as a pretext for military action. against ukraine, 876000 ukrainians, and in that scandal, hands have been given russian citizenship. and now russia's parliament is asking

president putin to formerly recognize the break away region. we're seeing, quite frankly, is the ability and certainly of certain actors, nation state actors like russia to drive the new cycle and to project whether it is on a course narrative or in some cases. and we've certainly witnessed it from here in washington efforts to drive the new cycle around a potential invasion around potential threats or even false flag operations. so what you're seeing right now is the information battle that is proceeding potentially a military invasion of ukraine. claims of genocide have been made before in 2008. president putin accuse georgia of committing genocide in up cardeana set yet before sending 30000 troops into the breakaway provinces. just a few months earlier, georgia said it would join nato. andrew chappelle al jazeera,

the i says it's in the final stages of in direct talks with a run to save the 2015 nuclear deal. france is also to, he brought in discussions and it's fun. a minister says an agreement could be just days away. indirect negotiations between the u. s. and iran resumed last week, after a 10 day hyatt, us we are in the midst of the very final stages of, as i said before, a complex negotiation are with the key stakeholders here. and this is really the decisive period during which will be able to determine whether a mutual return to compliance with the j. c. p. away, or is in the offing. or if it's not, again, we are, are sincere and steadfast, are in our efforts to you, and test the proposition as to whether or return can be achieved. in a landmark decision, the european union's top court has cleared the way for the block to withhold funds from member states that violate democratic rights and freedoms. the ruling

dismissed a case by poland and hungary, challenging the new funding law. the use been infused with poland and hungary populace governments on protecting human rights. syrian government airstrikes have killed at least 4 people and injured 3 others in the northwest of the country. the targeted a fuel market in id live, the last remaining province held by rebels. while inches from the white helmets try for hours to put out, the fire said his decade old conflict has killed nearly half a 1000000 people. rebels from ethiopia to good i region are being accused of killing civilians and raping dozens of women in the m hotter region. last year, an amnesty international report says to guy and fighters, committed atrocities in the times of china and cobble nearly half the victims of sexual violence there said they were gang raped, some of them, as young's 14 years old, more than a 100 sudanese detainees including high profile politicians on hunger strike because of what the lawyers call unjustified an illegal detention there. part of

the protest movement against the military takeover. last october, at least 81 people have been killed and more than 2000 been injured in clashes with security forces. burkina faso is crew leader has been sworn in as president, 3 weeks after toppling the democratically elected head of state. paula, where you sandalwood, amoeba took the oath of office in a televised ceremony, which had no fallen representatives in attendance. it had a melody jointer that overthrew rosh mark christian cowboy last month on the president of hon builders, one orlando, hernandez has appeared at his 1st extradition hearing. united states wants him handed over for allegedly engaging in drug trafficking and added was arrested at his home on tuesday, he left office less than 3 weeks ago after 8 years. as president, a canadian official says truckers protesting against mandatory coven, 19 vaccinations are dismantling their last blockade on the u. s. border. but

demonstrators in the capital ottawa, a saying put, police, have ordered the protesters to leave writing to arrest drivers and cancel the licenses if they don't. if paralyzed the center for more than 2 weeks, demanding the vaccine mandate and other restrictions should be scrapped. vascular as have saved at least 21 people in brazil after flooding a mudslide swamped a historic mountain town. at least 66 people have been killed after the deluge destroyed. eighty's structures in patropolis area received $25.00 centimeters of rain in 3 hours. almost as much all the rain in the past month, catch a look at his or your order. young as for the forest and magnitude of this rainfall was unexpected. within hours streets across the brazilian city, a federal police were submerged. nearby families are stunned as once,

and most lights get closer to their homes. the parents so strong a push vehicles along streets like toys. even a birth is aimlessly dragged away, nearly covered in water. families are now dealing with a devastating aftermath, including hearing about neighbors who didn't survive. first mortgage, w, j. it's very sad to see people asking for help and not being able to do anything. it's a feeling of desperation, a loss. our city is gone, our neighbourhood is gone. this group desperately tries to hold on. the mobile fire department says more than $250.00 millimeters of rain fell within 6 hours. that's more than a monthly average for the entire month of february. the region is still recovering

from the damage of last year's heavy rains were more than 500 people were killed. you know, this year again, already is fear the death toll. we'll likely rise. recovery efforts are underway, president hired boy. so nato who is visiting russia has called on the local government to deliver immediate support to what will likely b o lateral operation patio locus of again, al jazeera, a 6.2 magnitude. earthquakes killed at least 2 people in western, guatemala, the job damage buildings, including this church affecting 25000 people. last year, more than a 125 earthquakes were recorded in guatemala without any death or significant damage. extreme drought in paraguay is crushing its soybean industry. the landlocked country is the world's 4th largest soybean exporter. but this year's harvest is the smallest in decades about half of last year's 10000000 ton crop,

like a reins causing problems, transporting the crop through parched rivers and waterways. as some analysts are forecasting that and stubbornly high inflation rates, now running at 50 percent are gonna occur a grow even higher despite promises or the government to control prices for isabel reports from bought a service and her people are trying to adopt it's a culinary hot spot in the central market of when a site is and people here pride themselves in cooking the best spanish or b as in the city. but with the countries inflation rate at 50 percent. but the seattle lydia ileal says she has to make a next re for each month to keep the business going out of the not a sequel margin. tina is a disorganized country, but we learned to serve to situation. it's a constant challenge, the learning experience. our products are very good quality, i don't want to reduce quality. so what i do is try to sell as much as i can. so again, and quantity and don't have to increase the price as much. the government has been

trying to regulate the rising prices with controls and other economic measures, but it has not succeeded. inflation has been a problem for argent kinds per decade, and that's why people implement strategies to protect their income in this market. for example, waters need once a month to agree on the price of certain cuts and they promote those prices. in car voids like this one, the problem we're told is that this among the price of beef went up around 7 percent. so now they have to change the cardboard once again. jose luis hello, now owns a butcher shop. since epidemic beef consumption has dropped significantly and he's still trying to recover from the economic impact. boiler grammar is the beef culture in argentina is huge with barbecues, every weekend, what we see is people not eating is much be flagged before, and they are eating pork and she can insert it, ah, inflation for it is the government to guarantee that salaries and pensions increase

to keep up with a constant rising prices. protest like this one show. it does not always work on tuesday, thousands gathered in the center when aside is to demand more government assistance . argentine and international monetary fund, or in financial talks to negotiate more than 40000000000 in debt to target inflation. but economy say the fight to control rising price is won't bc for baker and argentina. there are several factors that have an impact on inflation. that's why it's so difficult to tackle, unless there is an integrity plan that attacks all those causes of inflation. it's like a monster with a 1000 heads. argentines have gotten used to living with inflation, and many have found ways to survive it. but it's a vicious cycle that has heard the countries chances of achieving long lasting economic growth. that is, i will, i'll decedent when of heidi's and new initiatives been launched in south korea to better integrate defectors from the north by helping them start their own

businesses. more than 33000 defectors live in the south. but as rama bryant reports from so many find it hard to adapt to life. there are at this launch event, a meeting between 2 cultures with a common purpose, south korea, ministers, and officials on one side, on the other young defectors from north korea wanting to make their mark in business. my name jesse kim came to south korea 8 years ago, bringing with her a lifelong love of food, which she is turning into a successful online business promoting north korean cuisine quiet. although till my own as a child, i was fascinated by the ingredients, the smell, and characteristics of food, and always prepared meals for the whole family. my hometown, her home is near to mac, back to considered by north korea leadership to possess special significance and struggling the chinese border through which most effective escape to the south is

north korea is heavily fortified. border with south korea much harder to cross and the scene of dramatic attempts such as this defection by a soldier in 2017. i made a hail of bullets once they get out of north korea. many defect is fine. that is only the start of the troubles. the biggest challenge is adapting to south korea as much free a lifestyle and fast paced economy completely unlike anything they've been used to . jesse kim has made that transition successfully. no more than telling, and again, more than i think for all young people business is difficult. i don't think i find it any harder, easier as a north korean defector. but many defect his struggle with some, even returning to the north this scheme is aimed to help them with business startups. with the white, a gold of closer integration between north and south. you know, i am convinced decision opportunity for people like you and future generations to 3

big and initiate change across the korean peninsula. that me when and community startup business to produce goods and services for both the north and south can help reduce the psychological distance between the 2, korea se with into korean relations currently in a deep freeze, even small initiatives, it seems keep alive the hope of close the ties one day. rob mcbride, al jazeera sol, one of the most important festivals for buddhists has been celebrated in spectacular fashion in thailand. 1000000 lanterns billets, as part of combinations for mar, how push a day. it's been staged by talents. the mikaya buddhist sect which is marking 52 years since it was founded, the movements considered somewhat controversial. it was an orthodox interpretation of buddhism bids, wealth, and links to a former prime minister. ah.