A double blow for afghanistan. A deadly bombing coincides with International Donors cutting aid. Pandemic pain for londons iconic black cabs. More than a fifth of them off the road. A new team with a very different vision and a renewed commitment to lead the world again. That is the message from u. S. President elect joe biden as he unveils top members of his administration. The president elect spoke surrounded by the men and women he has picked to be his Foreign Policy and National Security chiefs. It comes as bidens margin of victory continues to grow. Pennsylvania and nevada have become the latest states certify the president elect as the beginning as the leader. The latest from wilmington. President elect biden was unequivocal as he presented his National Security appointments and nominees. It is a team that reflects the fact america is back, ready to leave the world, not retreat from it. Once again, sit at the head of the table. Ready to confront our adversaries and not reject our allies. Ready to stand up for our values. Much was made of the backgrounds of the nominees as examples of the american dream. Linda thomasgreenfield nominated as u. S. Ambassador. Alejandra mayorkas, nominated to lead the department of homeland security. Mr. President elect, you know that i have never shied away from speaking truth to power. For all the talk of diversity, this is a National Security team that symbolizes the return of the washington Foreign Policy establishment after four years in the cold. None more so than secretary of state nominee tony blinken, deputy secretary of state under president obama. He is numb to be far more of an advocate for u. S. Military he is known to be far more of an advocate for u. S. Military aid around the world. America at its best still has a greater ability than any other country on earth to bring others together to meet the challenges of our time. Biden has pledged fresh thinking on Foreign Policy. Perhaps a recognition a key reason some voters switched from the democrats to trump in 2016 is their disappointment president obama had not brought the change in Foreign Policy he promised. Bidens Incoming National Foreign Security advisory did speak. The alliances we build, the agreement we signed, all of them should be judged by a basic question. Will this make life better, easier, safer for families across this country . Our Foreign Policy has to deliver for these families. Biden is making one key change. A special president ial envoy for climate, john kerry will sit on the National Security council with a pledge to make the environment central across the government. But there is some skepticism the washington insiders being chosen will be the ones to deliver a fresh policy thinking the president elect promising. These transition developments as well as progress on coronavirus vaccines have helped push markets to record levels. The Dow Jones Stock index reached above 30,000 for the first time in its history on tuesday. In a very brief white house appearance, donald trump took the credit for that market high. Lets go to our correspondent. When we stay brief, we mean brief, right . Very brief indeed. Precisely 64 seconds. That was the time it took donald trump to make that statement claiming to be responsible for that massive surge in the stock market. There had been some speculation about what he would say. He took credit for the stock market surge and there was no talk of any concession whatsoever and he is continuing to tweet out he will not concede, that he still considers the electoral process a fraud despite the fact that General Services administration has given the goahead for the transition to formally begin, which is now well underway. This is what President Trump had to say. The stock market has broken 30,000, never been broken that number. That is a sacred number, 30,000. Nobody thought they would see it. That is the ninth time since the beginning of 2020. It is the 40th time that we have broken records during the Trump Administration and i just want to congratulate all the people within the administration that worked so hard and most importantly, i want to congratulate the people of our country because there are no people like you. Thank you very much, everybody. Despite the surge in the stock market, there are still massive economic problems for the Incoming Administration to solve. The pandemic has crippled the economy in many ways and for average americans, has made it very difficult to live or maintain a living wage. This is why the Biden Administration has put the battle against the pandemic as its first and foremost priority when it takes over jam over on january the 20th. Live from washington, d. C. The Ethiopian Government says Regional Force has had started to surrender. The government gave the rebels until wednesday to lay down their arms or risk a final assault on the main city. It is warning people to leave the area. Leadership denies surrendering and claims and Ethiopian Military division has been destroyed. Our new force is getting stronger and powerful. It is requiring additional weaponry and building its capacity. This is not a battle of armies. This is a civil war. All of us by supporting each other sidebyside, we must defend this incomplete victory. Which means military, it is easier to strike. That is a simple fact. Once that happens, people would take the right choice. A choice that saves themselves. A choice that saves their future. Once they are let to know but is happening, what is the truth, [indiscernible] pushing these forces away. Ethiopias Human Rights Commission is accusing members of a youth group of massacring some 600 civilians earlier this month. A report says the attack residents of a small town in the west of the region. It says victims were killed with the collusion of local security forces. As the government threatens what it calls the final offensive, Rights Groups become increasingly concerned about the possibly of war crimes from both sides. When conducting this conflict, there are some rules. The International Human rights standards and International Humanitarian standards that deal with war crimes. Violation of these basic standards about protecting or targeting civilians can amount to a work crime. According to the international laws. Many of the families fleeing the fighting in ethiopia have been separated. More than 40,000 people have fled into neighboring sudan. That is where people try to find missing philly members. When fighting came to her hometown, she fled with most of her children but she had to leave her two eldest daughters behind in the capital. They went to study where the school is. Then the fighting started and there was no way for me to contact them. I do not know where they are and how they are doing. They said they did not have enough money before the fighting started. One is 14 and what is 15. Are they being fed . Are they being taken care of . They are only children. Since the fighting started in early november, more than 40,000 people have fled to sudan. Organizations save more than 5 million are trapped in the region with no access to humanitarian aid. Authorities say nearly 3000 people arrive every day. He arrived here two weeks ago. He has been searching for the parents of these three children. When the fighting came to the town, everyone started writing. Started running. These sibling seemed lost so i took them with me. I tried to look for their parents but i could not find them. I even used loudspeakers. Northfield, i came to them when all failed, i came with them to this camp. With no functioning phone lines or internet access, families who left loved ones behind say they are not sure if they are still alive. Most have started the process of tracking their parents or children, opened the arrived in sudan butter in a different camp. As more refugees arrived, the number of family separated is rising. Authorities say they are not sure how many children have been separated from their parents or how many mothers and fathers left their children behind. Organizations say they are making an effort to unite families. Children and women are always disproportionately impacted. We have social workers working with them as well as the police and they are in a safe place at the moment. We are going to be starting tracing of the families. For those who have left their children behind, the process is yet this start. She says she can only pray her daughters are still alive. If not, she has to wait until the fighting ends to go back to look for them. She is not sure how long that will take. There is growing alarm at the United Nations over the escalating conflict. Despite an increase of violence and a rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation, this is the first time the situation in ethiopia has been discussed in Security Council meeting. The u. N. Secretary general had first advised them to let diplomacy by the African Union and the regional grouping be given a chance. Now, he is urging the council to send a clear message on deescalation and the protection of civilians. We are following the reports of the possible military action with gray alarm. The secretarygeneral is very concerned about the impact that will have on civilian population, on our ability to deliver humanitarian aid in an area where it is almost impossible to do so. We have been in touch we have been fully supported, the African Unions leading role in trying to defuse the situation. The u. N. Is raising the alarm about ethiopian peacekeepers being disarmed or recalled from their unit serving with you and with the u. N. They are aware of five officers including the Deputy Force Commander in the region between south sudan and sedan who have been and sue don who have been sent home. There is no news about what has happened with them since. It was the worst attack in u. K. History. A posthumous appeal for the only man convicted of killing 270 people is underway in scotland. France pushes ahead with a contentious security law designed to strengthen police powers. We have got more cloud and rain coming into essential parts of china at the moment. What are we the weather sliding through wuhan. 16 for shanghai. Somewhat drier further north. Dry across the korean peninsula. Largely dry into japan. One are two offshore showers coming into the western side as we go on through thursday. Possibility of wintry mix. Essentially, starting to dry up over the next couple of days. Dry because a good part of indochina. Northern part of the philippines , a rash of showers across central and southern parts of the philippines. Fairly active showers across malaysia into indonesia. Very active weather into southern parts of india over the next day. Here comes the cyclone. In the process of intensifying 100 20 kilometers per hour. Heavy rain over the next couple of days. We are expecting widespread flooding particularly around those lowlying areas. The warnings extend into here as we go through thursday. Or rain for friday. More rain for friday. France once had a vast empire spanning several continents. But by the 1940s, the french were forced confront reality and demands for independence. In the first part of a new documentary series, al jazeera looks at how the colonial unrest grew. Conflict in algeria in fullscale war in indochina. French decolonization on al jazeera. Youre watching al jazeera. Our top stories this hour. Joe biden is going ahead with preparations to take over as president as his margin of victory keeps growing. He has unveiled some of his top team while pennsylvania have become the latest states to certify him as the winner. In brief white house appearance, President Donald Trump took credit for a record day in the markets. The dow jones index reached an historic high on tuesday following developments of progress on coronavirus vaccines. Ethiopias government claims forces have begun to surrender. They have given rebels until wednesday to lay down their arms. Tigres leaders are saying they destroyed a government division. Dozens of countries have pledged 12 billion for afghanistan during a virtual donors conference. The money is conditional on progress and peace talks between the Afghan Government and taliban. The country remains heavily dependent on International Aid. Eastern afghanistan is awash in color but life for most remains dark. Thousands of daily workers struggle to get by daytoday. When i see the poor people, the government is taking us from our necks and wants to kill. Poor do not have rights. Poverty levels have shot up to 70 from 54 last year. Many afghans say corruption deprives them from benefiting from the International Aid that has been keeping afghanistan alive for almost two decades. The government deals behind the curtains. Whatever they get, they distribute among themselves. Look at these children here. They sell plastic bags. They need to go to school. Corruption is the main concern for the International Community and its funding in afghanistan. Billions have been lost to abuse, fraud and waste in program set up to develop the country and communities. Providing knowhow to equipment to some afghans here to learn how to make all of oil and sell their lives. For years, the unit the International Community and donors have worked to make afghanistan selfreliant. Nearly 20 years since this conflict began, it became is one of the most aid dependent countries in the world. And it remains so fragile that during this years conference, dozens of countries pledged their support for the next four years despite many economies affected by the covid19 pandemic and uncertainties over the Peace Process between the government and the taliban. The afghan president tried to reassure donors. Despite our suffering, i want to be very clear that our commitments to negotiations with the taliban remains firm. Our negotiating team remains steadfast in their commitment to talks. We must bring an end to the violence. The European Union pledged almost 1. 5 billion for the next four years. Conditional on preserving the human rights and democratic gains of the last 19 years. A representative sends a warning to the taliban should to the television. The council said any attempt would have an impact on our political and financial engagement. Other countries like britain, the netherlands and canada stepped forward with hundreds of millions for afghanistan. As donors pledged their support, two blasts in the heart of afghanistans most peaceful province killed and injured dozens. And made the call for a ceasefire more urgent than ever. Politicians from rival libyan factions will hold a joint parliamentary session for the first time in years. Representatives agreed on the united session during talks in morocco. Mps will meet in a libyan city in the coming days. Parliament was elected in 2014 but split during the ongoing civil war. Saudi arabias cabinet is saying an attack on one of its Oil Facilities was aimed at targeting the global economy. The government has written to the u. N. , urging it put a stop to the threats posed the rebels filed the the threats posed the rubbers fired missiles. The company says it was put out in 40 minutes and supplies have not been hit. No casualties were reported. No one was injured. Everybody was safe. The supply to customers will not be corrupted. When not be interrupted. No interruptions to customers at all. Guatemalas government has begun crisis tugs on a controversial budget. It follows days of violent protests which forced congress to delay approval. Critics say the 13 billion budget supports big business but does little to help the poor. Protesters have been calling for the president to resign. The lower house of the French Parliament has been given an initial approval to a new bill meeting the rights of film or photograph police officers. The bill was passed as hundreds protested in central paris against the eviction of migrants from a camp on monday. The proposal has been criticized by Rights Groups. The national assembly, which is controlled by supporters of president macron voted the bill through with a large majority. It will go to another vote in january. Opposition candidates in burkina faso are rejecting results 10 they say rejecting results. They say the results have been tainted. An alliance of parties supporting the president has appealed to all sides to report to respect the outcome. Taiwans president has promised to defend the islands sovereignty amid growing tensions with china. The president was speaking at a ceremony where construction was begun on the first domestically produced submarine. China claims taiwan has its own territory. Solid National Defense requires not only a Valid National army but also solid armaments. In the past few years from the mass production to the first flight and todays construction of a national submarine, they demonstrate the power and independence of National Defense , which is strengthening day by day. Police in thailand have summoned seven protesters to face charges of insulting the monarchy. It will be the first time those charges have been applied in the country in more than two years. Anyone found guilty faces up to 15 years in prison. Antigovernment protests have turned it to curb the powers of the monarchy. A posthumous appeal on behalf of the only person convicted of the lockerbie bombing has started in scotland. The family of the man is fighting to clear his name. He was found guilty of mass murder when a flight exploded in 1988. He died eight years ago after his release from jail on compassionate grounds. He had terminal cancer. Yet his family have continued campaigning to get him cleared of causing the lockerbie bombing in 1988. He was found guilty of murdering 243 passengers, 16 crew and 11 residents of lockerbie when pan am flight 103 fell from the sky in pieces. Now the high court in scotland is hearing a third attempt at overturning the verdicts. His familys lawyers say the u. K. And u. S. Governments have lived a monumental life are 31 years. They described the verdicts as the biggest miscarriage of justice and a british legal history and they maintain iran was behind the bombing, not libya. That finger of blame has long been pointed in the direction of iran for having ordered a syrian Palestinian Group for carrying out a revenge attack on an iranian airbus. Lawyers claim u. K. Intelligence documents may show that the bomb was made by a member of the pflp, the palestinian front for the liberation of palestine. Britains foreign minister head signed a secrecy order last august to withhold intelligence documents relating to the case on the grounds of National Security. Lawyers say those documents should be be for the court instead of being held in the foreign office. It was in 2009, just before his return to libya, that he abandoned his second attempts at an appeal. In the third attempt to prove his innocence, lawyers say documents being kept secret are at the center of their case. The Aviation Industry is reporting larger than expected losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. The International Air transport association had predicted a 100 billion loss i the end of 2021. It has now raised that to 150 billion. Passenger numbers are expected to drop below 2 billion this year. That is less than half of the number from 2019. The Worlds Largest maker of latex gloves is closing with and half its factories in malaysia after a coronavirus outbreak. Almost two and a half thousand employees of the company tested positive for covid19. 16 factories have stopped production and 12 others have reduced output. Hostiles housing hundreds of workers are being guarded by security forces. Iran has reported a new daily record in coronavirus infections. 13,721 cases were confirmed on tuesday and 483 deaths. Restrictions were increased across the country earlier this month. Irannn . n . n . n . n . nvnaiuog i spend a lot of time in montreal. It really is, together with copenhagen and barcelona, one of my favourite places on the planet, a home away from home. But i still have a problem putting my finger on what makes this city so great. Through the centuries, montreal has found itself at a global crossroads where nations, cultures and languages have met, or were fiercely defended. Now, its as though montreal is a city that spends a lot of time wondering about itself. I wouldnt call it an identity crisis, more of an identimelange. This city faces real urban challenges. The people here will tell you that they have the worst potholes on the planet
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