i was in with ah, this is al jazeera.

ah. hello, i am sammy's a dan. this is the news out live from dell ha, coming up in the next 60 minutes. a harsh white christmas, no laptop in the extreme weather as an arctic blast continues to blanket north america. 3 foreign aid groups of suspending operations in afghanistan after the thought of bond balls women from working through and jose securing the skies. the drone hunters defending ukraine from brush in the tax. and we take a look at the story of the panama hat and it's misleading origins. awe about cross north america. people are enjoying a freezing festive season following one of the most power for winter storms in

decades. more than a dozen people have been killed during bliss, it's in the u. s. power has largely been restored in time for christmas, but the so called bomb side clone, left many stranded. sure, hybrid tendency reports from washington d. c. on the front of the storm on saturday was hitting upstate new york and the great lakes with snow full and high winds, many enough strand in their homes. for christmas. i lived in what you might call the stereotypical american suburbs. you can picture that and i cannot walk to the sidewalk in front of my house about 20 meters from my front door. thousands and thousands and thousands of people here and just in western new york state have lost power for a period of hours. and they are just coping with extra blankets. and lots of christmas sweaters disliked and official ban on driving in some areas. there were, is that many adventured up anyway, but the worst was over only to get stranded. this may turn out to be the worst

storm in our community history. there are still likely hundreds of people still stuck in vehicles including individuals who tried to drive out in the late night hours last night. this is the festive season in the us, one of the busiest travel periods of the year. and even though thousands of flight delays and cancellations were reported, some passengers were determined to complete the holiday travel. our whole airport shut down. so we drove to omaha, nebraska, got on a flight there. then then d. c. delayed in d, c. an hour here. even though winter storm earlier has moved way to the north. it's awesome. out of freezing temperatures mean cities from pennsylvania to florida being told to expect the coldest christmas on record. although climate scientists say it's difficult to ascribe a single weather event. the climate change. what we are seeing is in keeping with

the models they've been moving about for years, a warming object disrupting the jet stream and plunging polar southwards, more and more frequently. and just in general, an increase in a variety of extreme weather events. she ever time see al jazeera washington in canada full cost to say the extreme weather will continue throughout sunday. authorities of warn people to stay in doors. strong winds freezing, rain and heavy snow sweep, the country power has been cut to more than 200000 homes. falling trees of blocks from interested trains, services and the parker is meteorologist in buffalo, new york, which has been hit hard by the storm. he says it'll continue into next week. arctic plunge pers pushed across lake erie and as it did it scooped up a lot of moisture and created a very small scale effect called lake effect snow. it's where

a band of snow develops that is only a couple of miles wide. but within that, anyone experiences what we call snow blindness or white outs, where you can't see the front of your car if you're in it to drive at that point, people can't figure out where to go. they become stranded and rescue is not possible either because the vehicle is there, no one can see it. and even the empties and emergency medical staff can't get around. this band is continuing for now over 24 hours. it is going to slide and pack different communities. it went just to the north of buffalo, and that's where it's dropped more than 2 feet of snow. and a lot of this is going sideways in 60 miles an hour when that's what creates that white out condition or snow blindness. and it also takes that 2 feet of snow and turns them into 8 foot drifts, which makes getting through roads almost impassable. one of the small scale effects of this where it may be ok where you are. but once you begin to travel, if you become stuck in this, that's when you're trapped and you can't get out. we're finding that

a lot of folks are trying to be rescued, but their cell phones are starting to fail after 12 hours of being trapped in their vehicles. so they're reaching out any make any way that they can. and, and we're finding that as this begins to clear, one area folks are getting out and trying to find these people who are in their cars. the pattern of cold for western new york is going to last into about mid week next week. and then the nation as a whole, fine to bounce back. now, a man accused of killing 3 people at the kurdish cultural center in paris on friday says he did 0 because he has a pathological hatred for foreigners. the 69 year old has been moved to a psychiatric facility. that's crossover now to sound ben j. these live for us in paris. more of this said, is the fact that he's been moved to a psychiatric facilities that indicated that authorities believe that he's suffering from psychological problems. well,

i mean that is the sign that we're getting from the authorities here from the early reactions that you got from the police. this is a transcript of what he said to the police in the early i was often he was captured, saying that he's a racist somebody who has a deep pathological hatred for foreigners. there are some more details from this account from the prosecutors where the alleged attacker told the police that it was not the kurdish cultural center that he targeted in the beginning. he went in the morning to a suburb called denise, and he tried to find people for an origin, but there weren't many people there. so he came back home. and around noon he went out to this place where he knew a kurdish cultural center was located and that's where he opened fire. and also getting more details about his fire that allegedly he got it from a friend of his who is now to scenes

a few years ago. and he had hidden it in his home throughout all that time. and it is legal for people to get the firearms here in france if they belong to a hunting club. and that apparently the story from the attacker is that his friend was a member of a hunting club, who gave him an automatic piston which he used. but we've also been getting reaction from the kurdish community here. officially, they have not taken the stuns, but so far they're still not satisfied with the police is coming up with saying that this is something that the police, the thing that he said and so far they've not seen any proof that this person been to another suburb of france, that it was not a deliberate attack against the kurdish community, and they're still skeptical of what the police, his role has been so far, and they're still calling for justice. or i, thanks so much sound good job aid. now the united nations is expressing concern after afghanistan's taliban government banned women from working for aid

organizations. some foreign aid groups including save the children, and the norwegian refugee council already suspended their operations. following the ban were called some sheriff reports another restriction on women enough cornerstone. this time they're being told to stay away from blood that's crucial to getting humanitarian aid to millions of people in the town. government is wanting non governmental organizations that employed them. risk losing their license to operate in the country. whenever sigma in a society like a gun is done with for the past 20 years, they have so much for to an african women. they were educated and they served society. these women have supported their families for it is horrible for me to think that me and my generation of forced to experience such a situation than the un, the u. s. and the you say the a deeply concerned agencies that have a significant presence in the country of calling you the major blow participation

of women. that humidity and action is the mental issue, not the bridge dependence of action if we need the needs or the military and a distribution village be installation item warm blanket or anything. we need to make sure that participate in the assessment. that's the 1st set and the 2nd we need to make sure that out there to deliver the directly to them . and if this is not possible, the delivery of that age will not be. the taliban has a separate decrease after season control of the country following the withdrawal of the us forces last year. earlier this week, it bought female students from enrolling into universities. and response made students walked out of classrooms and women walked onto the streets to protest.

gender up or how it is happening and then it's done. the taliban are totally erasing of grand woman from society, from public eye and for from human life. and they hardening because it doesn't affect us in long term and short term struction boiling through happening in dennison. we are going to load a very dark future after to power and i've gone on the taliban promise women fundamental whites, but a year own it systematically excluding them from public life. when we consume sharif al jazeera, the norwegian refugee council is one organization that suspended operations in afghanistan. country director neil turner told al, just. busy there was no other choice. women who work for us are essential to be able to get the voices of women and to find out what the problems are and how we

can assist. for example, in terms of legal age or a number of issues. well, women, unless able access readdress in the courts and off you know, what because i sent in order to work with them, find out what to represent them in those schools. and without the most working for us on top of that and other aspects of what we're doing in which reservation and ation in shelter work. and in order to be able to access women and women, household households represent a majority of people in understand and we need women to be able to help. when all our work is done with extreme cultural center. and we understand the situation in which we work. one of the given reasons for this plan on our workers

is that we have not been compliant with islamic forms. this is simply untrue. we always work in the sense way and we have not been given any evidence. women have not been working in this way. this was the only option that we had because 1st of all, there's a principle involved that women should be allowed to work done. secondly, practically, it is impossible for us continue our operations. we're not able to work with my colleagues for them to access, not anything else, but all the nation men, women, and children. we need that to be in place and we can't operate without that. and we need to have a suspension duration specific. ah by the marcella had on the news hour, including a christmas play from po francis in defense of the victims of war and the struggle

to keep warm in germany this winter as energy prices saw ukraine's fraser involve them in as an unskilled, condemned russian shelling of a busy market in hudson as killing for pleasure. at least 10 people were killed in 58 injured in the attack on the southern city on saturday. her son was re taken by ukrainian troops last month in the major sat back for moscow. the landscape is calling for unity in a christmas holiday address to the nation. as roy drew, drawn in kimmy godson, no kamikaze drones can extinguish the christmas dawn. we will see its glow even under ground in a bomb shelter. it's emily. we will fill our hearts with warmth and light up pull. no missiles can hurt them, that they will break against our steel spirit and our fight will continue unabated

. when islam it's not threatened by planned or emergency blackout soccer, and we will never feel a lack of courage and invisibility language. but more than one is their child the so we will celebrate our holidays as always, we will smile and rejoice as always. the difference is one, we will not wait for a miracle because we will create it ourselves. no child stratford is in care of france. so charles, despite that defined tone, it's looking like quite a hard christmas for people there. right? it's a very hard christmas for millions of ukrainian sammy yes, obviously off 2 weeks of these this campaign by most go targeting energy infrastructure. we know that millions of ukrainians of suffering these rolling blackouts is the authorities try and get as much electricity to as many people as they can with so many of these substations having been hit on

a course harsh winter conditions. many people with very little heat as well. and meanwhile, the shelling and the fighting continues in the last couple of hours or so. we heard from the authorities in the eastern city of cramer tools, the reporting at least 3 strikes and no specification as to what exactly was hate and no casualties. but it's interesting that credit tools vision the 2nd day that criminals because being 8 credits all sc is basically one of the 2 largest urban centers internet still on the ukrainian control. and it's relatively close to that hot, small town of buck moot, where we have seen and continue to see some of the most intense fighting of this war so far. neither the russians nor the ukrainians really making any progress. so the grading full,

she's seemingly keeping them back as well. she makes probing attacks from the north and the south trying to surround that city. we've also heard reports today off to that rick attack yesterday, that killed at least 10 people in san an injured around a little more than 60 others. we've heard of more shelling about on the cc and the surrounding care. so in today we've seen pictures of people queueing up to donate blood, and they're biting, going on at multiple other mobile, other areas right away along with jeanette glue guns, regional borders also. so yes, a pretty dismal christmas as you'd expect for millions of ukrainians. interested me going back to this campaign by moscow hating this energy infrastructure across the country. more attacks are expected at any time. we heard to miss our warnings that were country why we heard the sirens here today in cable. so,

but no reports of any missiles or all these can cause he drones having hit any targets. but yeah, the entire country is still on alert. and yesterday, we were in town with one of these mobile defense units trying to protect cities like kid from these attacks. and this is our report. pointing sky would and on high alert this soviet anti aircraft gun was built in 1982 the manage its controls are members of a mobile ed defense unit trying to protect the ukrainian capital and surrounding area from russian. so called kamikaze drone and missile attacks. some of the ammunition was taken from a similar russian weapon captured around boucher in the early days of the war. other soldiers carry portable heat seeking soviet post soviet and wisdom stinger

missiles. the commander says they are effective up to a range of 6 kilometers, but often find it difficult to latch onto the drones the russia is using to target ukraine's electricity grid. veronica, because the 2nd story said you shaheed 131 and 136. kamikaze. drones are low speed visible and loud, but they have a small heat signature. it can be difficult to lock on to the target. and the missile might miss anti aircraft guns work most effectively against the shade, but they have a problem with the drone flies at night or conditions of poor visibility. russian forces have carried out at least a 1000 drone and cruise missile attacks targeting energy infrastructure in the last 2 and a half months most like this one are intercepted but many gets through. so millions of ukrainians are suffering blackouts and poor

heating in freezing winter conditions. ukraine's western backers have sent air defense weapons such as this ne, some system. and last week, the u. s. announced it is supplying a patriot missile system. but training how to use it can take months. one missile costs up to $4000000.00. the commander of this unit says it will be used to projects only the most important potential targets and cannot be deployed to intercept drones and cruise missiles. as we were filming this mobile, hey, the faith unit, the sound of the siren can be heard in the distance. and as a result, as you can imagine, these men are now on the move. we were not allowed to follow the soldiers because of the risk of giving away their locations, put in another field,

close the cave. this mobile a defense unit practices using machine gun the range of around 3 kilometers. you can easily take down the chemicals, you drones, that flight around a 160 kilometers an hour. only get eyes on 1st. there are some other cost. why? there are no. your drones are less difficult. the missiles are, but there are observational difficulties because they can fly over forests that hide them or over busy roads with her approach noises drowned out by traffic. despite the challenges they face, there are hundreds of men like these across the country. constantly ready for a radio alert, focused on the skies. chaw strafford al jazeera key of region. ukraine. hannah shall i stares, security studies program director at her. you grania in prison, it's a foreign policy and security think tank based in odessa. she says,

president putin is intent on underestimating ukraine's defensive capabilities, passcode is the air defense. so it's not rush and the worry or not to worry that is something to detect ukrainian critical infrastructure. the 2nd thing is that for the last month, if we call something here, either from the can all problem, there has a few military, the statement that be destroyed all high mars or virus stars or all other side of the whitman the need been receiving. and sometimes when you calculate the total amount that the navy is over d, as sometimes more of that you frames had you general with an over a month the main charges to the. 7 and he think an electrical system, so that's all her can be of the lexical production facilities. i be a huge role lexical station or the on the station. we are all, all witness. we have the power plant part. ukraine has one others. so that definitely defy he's still with us where we need

a better texture. but at the same time, everything will depend on the situation on the ground because we are not expecting them earlier than in a month or 2, being physically deployed and operated. and the front line can change significantly depending on the needs. we also can you all where the system will be for the 1st the well russians are top to use a lot of the 5 to size that messiah because they're liking them the already using more. all the rainy on or even to re, we've meant that they would like to that demonstrate that their capacity to leave the soldiers that be an either you or capture the lesson without proper reform. so we understand that the creation of the russian on forces. i'm also who's on the ball. that's why they are changing the nazi i'm dyslexic is not only that we saw one month old, charged critical infrastructure, so population will offer in your rates. but the also started to shout awards the

newly liberated territory. pope frances has made the plea for peace during his 1st christmas day mass since rushes invasion of ukraine. the head of the roman catholic church says the weak and vulnerable victims of the pursuits of wealth and power laterals that our eyes be filled with the faces of our ukrainian brothers and sisters who are living this christmas in the dark and cold as far from their homes may the lord inspire us to offer concrete justice of solidarity to assist all those who are suffering. and may he, enlighten the minds of those who have the power to silence the sender of weapons and put an immediate end to this senseless war. germany has been reliance on russian gas to meet his demand for heating. but as the war new crime goes on and the prices of sword is dominant cane reports, germany is had to rethink options for keeping its people warm. this winter,

winter in berlin in 2022. it's a cold and dark time with energy prices elevated by the war in ukraine. for some people there are few ways to keep warm. so the heated shelters are busy. as a few mentioned in belinda, so many people in berlin but also elsewhere have so little money that they turn off the heating and air apartment or only turn it on for hours at a time. and that's where it's particularly important that during the day there are also places in the city where you can stay in the warmth until 2022. germany received much of its imported gas through pipelines from russia. now that route is closed off, and this is its replacement, a floating l n g terminal in v hems haven't built from scratch in months at the behest of a chancellor. determined to break with the past was lance president russell's pilot and put him, believed he could let my loss by cutting off our gas supplies. but he was wrong. we will not be a black man. by the end of 2023,

we will probably have an important capacity of more than 30000000000 cubic meters of gas via the north german coast alone. all of this corresponds to well over half of the total volume of gas, but flowed through the pipeline from russia to germany in 2021 fortune and ca, plus list. replacing last russian. hydrocarbons has been a central problem to europe's leaders in 2022. the e u has introduced embargoes on coal and oil. a cap on gas prices has just been agreed and will start in february. and one brussels based analyst says you leaders could agree to purchase gas as one blog with one negotiating position to represent 400000000 citizens. as you talking volumes that are very, very large. and these volumes, of course, you can get some sort of discount. and then of course, we'll have an effect on the, on the consumer price as well. but again, this is going to last, at least

a few months, probably if you get through and if it's being implemented, which also has legal administrative hurdles to pass, then it will have an effect on, on, on the gas price and the next winter at christmas markets like these, most people's minds are far from volatile energy markets, mold, wine, pastries, and presence of the order of the day. when the festive season passes, these markets will disappear and winter will not. and though ministers encourage their citizens to reduce their energy consumption, many might wonder how easy it is to do that. so the cold and dark days of a new year. dawn, a cane al jazeera poland. still had an al jazeera, china's china conducts a new round of military drills in the sea and as space round, taiwan, things have gone up very expensive. most book, anyone half what?

even by christmas. right now, we look at watts fueling runaway inflation in nigeria. ah, with hello, we got some pretty well now making its way into bolivia, you see how the clouds just blossom here pushing across northern part, some really big down pools that is likely to lead to some localized flooding the where to weather will not a little further north which as we go through the remainder of sunday, the shower sale, of course, pushing back into the western side of brazil as well. so that there is a scattering a shower around some showers. there is a paraguay largely dry down into much of more than argentina. was unpleasant sunshine water service at around $28.00 degrees celsius. and we share monday into central parts of brazil. pushing up towards ecuador may be seen some where to, where the grassy easing in here, northern parts, or peru is well,

wanted to shout heavy spells. a frame is a western parts of columbia as well. not bad across the caribbean, but you see the big line of cloud that is the tail end of what was our bomb sigh close making its way across. central decent corner of the u. s. heavy rain. they're making its way across a good part of southern mexico. into guatemala, through belize, grassy steering a little for the southwest over the next couple of days. now for much of 3rd north america over the next couple days. it is an improving picture. still some snow around the lakes there, through the remainder of monday, sliding across the plains, slowly easing off and attack mazda for monday. ah, it was supposed to be a refuse, but south korea's brother's home was allegedly the scene of torture, rape, and even murder $1.00 oh, $1.00 east investigates the crimes, and those set to be behind on al jazeera january. oh,

now is it almost a decade after joining the e. u, croatia, adults the euro, despite fears, it could lead to price increases and already tough. economic times immersive personal short documentaries, africa, direct showcase is african stories from african filmmakers. can public private partnerships sold some of the world's most pressing challenges when government, business and civil society leaders meet for the world economic for rigorous debate and unflinching questions. up front, cut through the headlines to challenge conventional wisdom. senegal host, the all africa, musical wars. celebration of talent and creativity from all corners of the african continent. genuine analogies in lou

ah, welcome back here watching al jazeera. that's recap, all headlines now. people across north america preparing for a freezing festive season for a major winter storm. at least 18 people have been killed during blizzards in the us. thousands of flights have been cancelled. ukraine's president is calling for unity and a holiday address to the nation. but all the medicine and ski says people will create their own christmas miracle by sayings long in the face of russian attacks with 3 foreign aid groups suspended operations are not gonna stand off to the atomic bomb government band women from working for a nice ation. and g o in the country, a warning, the exclusion of women will deepen the commandments. harry and crisis rom is i like that of is the united nations deputy special representative for

afghan. the son, he says, the un we'll see kansas from the time, the bon reservation of them in humanity. inaction is this, the mental issue, not the bridge dependence of action. so obviously in the population cannot be delivered in the situation then. no, let's pick this now. what sort of complaints are they talking about? how they, the ministry explained in any way to you or any other n jose in the country as to what the problem is with this? i think the letter was sent to us. mention the use of the job as one of the reasons we right now have meeting the work is to understand better than want to be sure we stayed behind the session. so what answers will you be asking from then

considering the stays about why non african women could they or could they not be part of this ruling? i mean this, it's a gray area. the moved about what the definition is of this edicts coming from the taliban. i do believe that we will be asking them for you will all embeds for the participation of them in communicating inch. all programs are not gated, then these are integrate unless they have the full access and able to participate in assessments, liberty and discharge of services. and population that will be very difficult for us to deliver as we need to in this difficult whole months. so this is our message to the forty's, and that's what we'll be discussing them and ok, doesn't generalities or general terms should i say, could you just give us

a specific example of how this would affect one aid worker in either the urban old rule is and how that impacts on the african community in that specific area. it is very simple, really. we just this needs for them to do a distribution, lunch, b, digitization item warm blanket food or anything. they need to make sure that the men participate in the assessment. that's the 1st step, and the 2nd we need to make sure that women out there to deliver the aid directly to them. and if this is not possible, then delivery of that a lot of the bus. so for example, areas such as midwifery, gynecology, cancer, awareness and treatment. where does these really very difficult issues to deal with when it comes to women participating in these areas that they can't actually

work and in public service doing the sort of job absolutely impossible to deliver health services out them in participating in all of those critical areas of health care and you had mentioned, we did receive information from the minister out there that is not applied to the health sector. and then you find that i know you have a very difficult position in the u. n. a. in kabul, acting as a neutral arbiter, but at the end of the day, if the taliban refused the un requests, they then reject surely the international community as a whole. so they can't, than appeal for help when they've already rejected the help logical argument. this is a very logical argument, frankly speaking, it will be difficult to discharge the services than the principals are problems. the only way we can deliver in assistance,

not just. and there is through the application of the universal principles that implies a rational independence. and that implies application of principle gender. women's role in that process is on the the war between russia and ukraine, set the tone for u. s. foreign policy in 2022000 and jordan reports from the u. s. state department in washington dc. on february, the 24th international efforts to prevent the russian invasion of ukraine failed. the biden administration's response sanctioned moscow and give he billions and military assistance. even some the war ground on through december, president putin has failed defeating ukraine on the battlefield. he has failed at his land, grabs on south and east. he's failed at erasing ukraine's borders. its identity is

people. it's resilience that windows is deal. it's the u. s. and other western countries looked for ways to punish moscow. oil price caps, travel, and business sanctions. gathering evidence of alleged human rights violations and war crimes. they also used the war to expand nato's membership, but isolating russia wasn't as easy as the us had hoped. i think all wars and in some kind of negotiated solution at some point. the costs so far are not high enough for russia to conclude that there that it's in their interest to stop. granting people have a lot of background. that said, the u. s. has made it clear it will not send american troops to help ukrainians fight the war in ukraine wasn't the only foreign policy crisis facing the biden administration. it also had to put a lot of time and energy into what it calls it's number one foreign policy priority

. the rise of china washington says it wants to compete with beijing not contain it. but it is worried about china's efforts to dominate economic and military relations around the world while ignoring its human rights obligations. the pentagon recently unveiled its newest stealth bomber the b 21. with this warning, the u. s. is watching china's every move. america's defense will always be routed into torrent conflict. so we are again making it plain to any potential folk. the risk and the cost of aggression far outweigh any conceivable, gains. antony blank and visited countries in southeast asia, 3 times and 2022. he also endorsed increased u. s. military support for taiwan. and he went to australia to bolster the new

security alliance with it and the united kingdom blank and also made 4 trips to the middle east. a region where b ging has tried to build closer economic ties. there are a lot of opportunities for us firms for us businesses, for us, persons to, to engage with interact with do business will every day with people in these parts of the world. china's just taken the lead on that because they see an opportunity efforts to recalibrate ties with saudi arabia were complicated despite a presidential trip to saudi arabia. in july, the u. s. is now reviewing its economic and political relationship with reality because of a rift over global oil prices. critics of also attacked washington's decision to not let the fiance of jamaica shoji su crown prince. muhammad been solomon for the journalist's murder in 2018. the u. s. made a little progress in resurrecting the nuclear deal with iran. it's not clear when

a new round of negotiations will happen. prospects for peace talks between israelis and palestinians were also deemed though late in 2022. a do special representative for palestinian affairs was appointed. the u. s. and its allies couldn't stop north korea's nuclear weapons program or even prevent it from test firing dozens of holistic mental health. and despite the n r he on the streets of hayden's capital, the us and other countries have yet to decide if they will send an armed troops. this, at the request of president a halo li. looming over all of this though, is the warring ukraine. a challenge, the u. s. has argued must be defeated if respect for the rule of law and for self determination is to endure rosalyn jordan alger 0 washington.

iran supreme court says it will accept an appeal from rap her salmon said the scene . he's facing a death sentence after taking part in protests against the government is accused of trying to kill security forces and setting a rubbish. been on fire, is seen denies the charges. nation wide protests were triggered by the death in police custody of 22 year old woman massa. i mean, in september libyan warlord halley, for half star is reported to have announced what he calls a final chance to hold elections. rival factions agreed to hold an election a year ago, but the process fell apart. half that his army previously waged war against the un recognized government in tripoli. and he's a general command of the libyan at national army, gives the conflicting parties the last opportunity to put together a roadmap, ready for implementation with specific features that ultimately aims to set the deadline for holding general elections in which the libyans will control the ballot

boxes china has conducted military drills in the sea and as space around taiwan said, it was in response to what it cold provocation by the island and the united states . taiwan government has complained of repeated chinese military activity near its territory last week. washington boosted its support for ty pay aging says taiwan is part of china and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control. and the mock is a senior research fellow at the center for china and globalization think tank. he joins us now from beijing, could have you with us. so 1st of all, these drills a routine that join between russia and china. but do they have a special significance now given some of the recent east west tensions they absolutely do. so these drills are an annual exercise designed

to us strengthen, peace and stability in region. but we know, especially in the last year that your been increasingly aggressive and provocative actions by the united states. other countries around the world with respect to taiwan, but other parts of the region as well. so i think these exercises take on special significance as a result of this much more complex and challenging global geo political environment. there are also a message here being sent about the ability of the china. russia aligns to counterbalance weston backs alliance is that also exist in the region. i think that is a very important aspect of this. so part of this exercise includes

ha bombers from both countries landing in their respective other countries. so i think this is something new and is intended to show a deeper level hop cooperation bye. these exercises also include an air defense and us submarine ah, operations as well. and i think this is important because it, again, it shows the high level of strategic trust between china and russia. so again, showing that there is the resolve between these 2 countries to ensure that there is a clear message of deterrence, that any aggression, any provocation, ah, will be for costlier than any hospital gains, i think goes point to point out. the other thing dimension here too, is the nature of the relationship and that this is, ah,

a partnership between 2 countries that are peers also on the un security council. ah, versus one where one country is essentially the ah, the conquering states and the others are more vassals, that this is more a partnership of equals more. i thank you so much for your thoughts and analysis. at pleasure, china's national health commission is to start publishing daily figures of cov, 19 infections. numbers will instead they published by another government organization for research purposes. hospitals are becoming overcrowded in china as it battles a wave of current virus infections, but no go with 19 deaths have been reported for full consecutive days. dozens of or a hanging refugees have arrived in indonesia. is nolan, our chief province of 2 weeks at sea. local villages saw the wooden vessel with 58

men on board and help them off shore vessel had a broken engine, and those on board said they were eventually blown to the coast by the wind. thousands of most they, most of them rank refugees, risk their lives each year on long sea journey attempt to reach malaysia or indonesia. at least 10 people have been killed in attacks by armed groups in savannah for region. so if you were also wounded, when 15 villages were rated on 1st day and friday, the region has suffered decades of ethnic conflicts. the death toll following a gas tank or explosion in south africa is now risen to 15. several more were injured in the incident near the city of box book, emergency services say they are investigating the plaza, caused widespread damage. sonya geiger reports. the moment a gas tanker stuck under

a bridge exploded into flames. it was outside the tambo memorial hospital. inside the impact collapse, the roof and left day be strewn around. the emergency room ne, by homes were also damaged, as flame spread from the site of the exclusion. residents from a nearby elderly care home were evacuated. it was more like a bomb. will you say the i was been eat happy in that gain? that bomb venue it out? we like what's going on there? when we saw the was flames, we saw fire under the bridge. like what was going on? what's going on then we saw it think i which was painting the tank. it had been reportedly delivering gas to the hospital when it got stuck under a low bridge. the box break finer. crude responded speedily and on our right road, a farm bill clark. but us when the lights they tried to trick steven

the prior, but unfortunately the turn griggs flooded and seek so the fire fighters were injured. and then a no number of bystanders were odyssey the flames. continued to burn for hours, railway lines have also been damaged. investigators are examining exactly how and why a routine delivery could have ended so tragically. sony guy, yeah, go al jazeera. now many people in nigeria are facing increasing hardship after the prices of basic has doubled compared to a year ago. inflation has been made worse by flooding, the lack of security and some farming regions from mila reports from boucher. despite being one of the largest oil producers in africa, nigeria went through yet another fuel crisis. in early december, at times, the price increased 300 percent. instead of using

a bus or taxi alix gay bill uses the cheapest mode of transport. he can find from here to my destination, initially was 15 year or no, we are a 10121. she's also d. i had it on by dropping off into saudi economy. and are you still in touch me on horses, which is very, very harsh room was unreal. all these boys very, very stressful, even though we don't even have, there's no place to buy a big place to buy food. so most of these company does reduce picked up as advantage to export from people. the government subsidy program is meant to make fuel more affordable. but critics say it's corrupt an oil supply is say they've not been paid in months. many people here say the cost of traveling to and from work is far higher than what they earn. the high cost of fuel not only impacts the cost of transportation, but almost all aspects of daily life. christy kim no,

no buys groceries at this. a butcher market several times a week. lately, the cost of living here has been very, very unbearable. things have gone up very expensive. most book, anyone are 40 even by christmas right now. for example, things have gone up and we are very expensive. and every on, on variable to it. so it is, i mean, funding, i mean, funny mickey, it's been talked with her. she's not the only one surprised by the rising prices. right now. the cravings are not friendly because i got apples. i by apples for on. right now, which is one up on right now, i just going to the markets, they end up telling me up with the $35.00. andre. i'm like how the lady was like, does how deprive of things how so i'm forced to write sciences of wound that if nothing is done to combat climate change, things will only get worse. the flawed in their fair weather. hi joe. toward the

floor. the men of farm icon alcorto production. i'm sure to discuss the top product sharing to find out that we have later resources to fit the demand for power for a very small that the demand cannot afford to port change in the local market. fighting between the military and armed groups and farming areas is also affecting food supplies. high government debt and rising inflation is putting the economy under pressure. and as nigeria hit to the polls in a couple of months, a worsening economy is likely to influence how people vote for me. to milan al jazeera, a buddha, farmers, famous actors, and even us presidents of all warmed the famous panama hat. but despite what many believe these hats are not and never were from panama, monsieur newman explains in ecuador, ah, this is the story of one of the world's most famous and yet misnamed hats. for more

than a 120 years mules had been bringing to keep home fiber from the hills surrounding monte city. near the pacific coast of ecuador said the batch i is a 3rd generation hat artist, cynthia, significantly. and. and it's very tough job because you have to cook the palm fiber . you have to split it and put it to dry in the sun, afterwards, wash it, and curate it. i love but that's just the beginning of an exquisite craft, though they've been de la hayward, i, this was, we were, the best strands are specially selected if they aren't naturally, but then by that they have to be worked in prepared until they are all identical. and have the same color, so you can imagine the effort this implies young working and weaving. something that is so fine we can go on it. but i was great. grandfather was one of the 1st to commercialize the monte christie hats and exploit them to panama at the beginning of the 1900s i got in during the building of the panama canal, former

u. s. president theodore roosevelt was given one and fell in love with it. nick, naming it the panama hat. however, undeserving that name has stuck to this day. the more welts the had has the more flexible in light. it is almost like fabric yet it's strong and can last for up to 20 years. it did, but i got 9. no, ah, is it? oh god, no. this is way too difficult. i've been trying and trying. i just cannot get it right. this weaving technique is so complicated and not to mention uncomfortable the position. so let me tell you this is not easy. work. pitch eyes. 84 year old father began making them when he was 8 it, but if you get it back, the price one gets is very little compared to the time it takes to make these hats . so unfortunately, less people are making them these days. i used to live this way for, you know,

listen, some of the finest hats can take up to a year to weave. but the artisans rarely fetch more than $1800.00, even when they're sold abroad to the rich and famous for up to $25000.00. still, his grandsons are already becoming the 4th generation of patricia to produce the original key, a palm hat, a proud symbol, not of panama, they say, but of their country ecuador. to see a newman al jazeera wanted christie ecuador. still i had an al jazeera oh, praying for paste the christmas hopes of worshippers, said the birthplace of jesus. ah, ah, it abandoned as a child by his own cristella,

well known as nothing of his only life in the republic of congo, la after 40 years living in switzerland. cristella follows a fascinating paper trail that leads from his adopted home to the country of his bath and the most unexpected re union witness. earlier on, al jazeera lou ah, earlier thousands of people gathered at the birthplace of jesus for christmas eve mass. better to hammer the occupied west bank. it's been gearing up for

a bustling season after 2 years of locked out. a while. tourist numbers are up there. well below pre pandemic levels, listening that abraham reports ah, a prayer for peace in one of the regions that in the most in bordeaux, the latin patriarch of jerusalem presided over the christmas midnight math in bethlehem's nativity church christmas eve is the event bethlehem looks forward to all year long as celebrations attract christians from all over the world to the traditional birthplace of jesus. but this season was 3 years in the making. the cities were limited for the past 2 years, due to coffee, 19 locked down. 50. uh huh. there is a good turnout and tourism is picking out a table behind me as customers from turkey and others came from ukraine. so there are people coming on. the palestinian tourism ministry says that the sector is

recovering with more than 500002 his visiting bethlehem in 2022 very nice atmosphere every feel at home and it's the spirit of christmas compared to more than 3500000 to is to visited palestine in 2019 this year the number of put into this is just shy of 1000000. this is not the boost small shop owners. we're hoping for. for me if you wanna talk about last year was much better than this year. last year i had a lot of work on the arab who lives in the norfolk for palestine like the people who lives in nazareth and to be around these people. they get came to buy and they came in big numbers called the borders were closed. ah, out of the $900.00 palestinian christians and gaza is radio for it is only granted $600.00 of them permits to leave to bethlehem to throw in there. one person will be granted a permit, but 2 others of the same family weren't. they always leave some one out. so what

happens is that the family ends up not traveling with more than $220.00 palestinians killed by israeli forces this year. palestinians are reminded that theory mean under israel's occupation. ringback hearsay, they tried to seize any opportunity to celebrate. they live under israel's military occupation and tell us they don't have much to do, but to pray for peace. deborah, him al jazeera the occupied west bank. well that said from me for this news, albert, i'm back in the moment with more of the day's news in another post and stay with us . ah mm.

and i talked to al jazeera, we are the women of august that was somehow abandoned by the international community. we listen, we have a huge price for the war against terrorism. as going on in some money, we meet with global news makers and talk about the stories that matter on al jazeera. when the news breaks, it's designed to represent a better when it's now become a place to welcome funds from around the world when people need to be heard. and the story told, this area of size will, will be an island within a 100 years. with exclusive interviews and in depth report, sarah germany's law just going to write up for sure how to come to our g 0 has teams on the ground to bring you more award winning documentary and lives join the debate. when we talk about climate change in africa,

we should focus on adaptation not mitigation on our online, at your voice. it shouldn't be explaining that what that level not is being right is being a victim. that is going to benefit them. the more revealing new perspectives like getting this out of proportion. no, no. his reach and has power is what is this proportionate? the stream where a global audience becomes a global community on al jazeera. one day i might be covering politics or in the next i might hear a bite protocol say from serbia hungry for what's most important to me is talking to people understanding what they're going through so that i can convey the headlines in the most human way possible here douglas 0, we believe everyone has a story worth hearing. ah.