china reopens off to nearly 3 years lifting quarantined requirements for old travelers despite a covered 19 outbreak. ah, i'm told the cry, this is al jazeera live from time ha, also coming up iran trolls. international condemnation for executing 2 anti government protesters who killed a member of the paramilitary force. i am already address here in court to know been a republic reporting on the legislative elections. yeah. mocking the return of the opposition uptake was excluded from the previous parliamentary vote. and how and you, generation of zimbabwe, educated jude's are working the land to make a living. after nearly 3 years of self imposed isolation, china has reopened its borders and lifted covert 19 restrictions on international travelers. these are some of the 1st passengers not required to quarantine upon arrival. since the government rolled back some of the world's toughest restrictions, the virus has been spreading across the country. people have been urged to limit travel and gatherings ahead of lunar new year's celebrations. royal services between mainland china and hong kong have also resumed. but passengers are still required to show a negative covered 19 test. katrina, you has more from beijing. ah, people across china are elated for many the smart, the real and of the 0 coven 19 policy. that was employed for almost 3 years, which involved lengthy government, quarantined for those coming from overseas, as well as general restrictions on moving for those inside the country. now according to one of the biggest travel agencies here in china, there's been a leap by of more than 80 percent, an interest in traveling abroad with favorite destination search for online, including thailand, south korea, japan and the united states. hong kong, which is also open up, its voters with the mainland to day on sunday is also a very popular destination with many families in the mainland hadn't connections, business or family with those on the island. but it's not going to compete on sickle free, depending on where travelers from china want to go at least 20 countries around the world have put up some restrictions. screening passengers recovered 19 before they come because of this experts predict that countries in south east asia that don't have any limitations, that they will be the main beneficiaries of chinese tourism. but it's not just internationally where people are expected to travel domestically. they're also expecting a boon in tourism here in china, especially now that this weekend has marked the beginning of to noon. the travel period leading up to lunar new year, china's railway department says there will be 2000000000 made across china over the next few weeks alone. and many of these will ankle clued migrant workers who have not been able to travel 100 previous is due to restrictions. the government, however, is concerned by a current surgeon cove. in 19 cases, especially since the medical system in these remote areas is less developed. and there are few people fully vaccinated and because of the, the government has recommended that there be no large, large scale public gatherings. and also recommended people who had coverage had stayed home, but they've stopped short as a banning any travel altogether. the thailand is one of the most popular destinations for chinese tourist sends this hope that their return will help revive the travel industry from bangkok, his tony chain, aaron, bank of chinatown, the hanging lance to celebrate the lunar new year in 2 weeks time. if the truth be, tell, they're a bit more concerned about a date, a little closer. monday, the 9th of january and chinese terrace, and able to return the thailand after restrictions were lifted when they arrived, they'll only have to show a vaccine certificate with fear of the restrictions that have been placed on them going to other places. as all tourists will now have to do, the thai government knows they are vitally important for the revival of that terrace industry which makes up 25 percent of the tie economy. they're hoping that their goal of $20000000.00 arrivals this year will impart be boosted by these the arrivals from china. that there is some trepidation. those who aren't directly involved in the tourist industry. concerns with the spread of coven infections within china. a new barian could emerge. remember the curve and 19 was 1st seen outside china. here in thailand that said their importance to the economy and to the post coven. 19 revival is faithful. and many people will be hoping that brings a prosperous and happy new year. iran is facing international condemnation. after hanging 2 men convicted of killing a member of the paramilitary force during anti government protests. in november, mohammed's committee kurama was a national karate champion. and said, mohammed, how seni was a volunteer coach for children. amnesty international says the convictions relied on forced confessions. the e u says it's appalled and the us is demanding an end to what it calls sham trials . oh, nega mortars, avi is a journalist and host of the iran podcast. she says these executions are only fueling more dissent. it seems like the government by rushing through these cases and world human rights organizations. international specifically say without any resemblance of justice or due process is essentially trying to instill fear and send the message to the rest of the protesters and the sensors that this is what's going to happen to you and that they're using any need to try to crush protests to essentially send the protesters back home. the previous 2 execution followed the same hotter and young man fairly unknown, executed through rush courts, and also abruptly in the early hours of the day. and this time also, it seems to be the same to men, $20.21. and both hang, especially. then the goal of this is to still see above what is actually doing is generating more anger, generating even more protests with the funeral of poor testers, turning into new quotes. has them felt actually the 2 men that were hands were arrested around the protests that were for the funeral of one of the other killed protesters. so it just seems to be generating more anger, more intro ball of protest, and essentially energizing more people to join this body of movement. and then moments mirandi is a political analyst and professor at the university of toronto. he says, rights organizations, critical off iran, heaven alteri a motive. we have to be careful about these human rights organizations, which are funded by western governments or funded by institutions supposed to be affiliated with western governments. amnesty international. we now have supporting nato and honest fun and it is close to it later. when the political establishment in the mattresses, we have to remember that over 60 police officers were murdered during this period. if you compare this to that, say the united states, that would be roughly comparing it. we're taking into account that the population of the united states is 4 times greater than iran. that would mean like 225060 police officers in the united states being killed by a riot. so i think if we take it look at things in, in, in this sort of context, then it would be far more complicated than what these western and human rights organizations were. st. felton's office riley's have protested and telephone against the new right wing government. and it's plans to, i've hold the traditional system, they say it threatens democracy and freedoms. the reforms include enabling parliament to overrule the top court decisions. it would also give politicians more influence over the appointment of judges lifting organizations and palestinian israeli members of the parliament were leading the demonstrations. we are really, again, is going to lose the democracy with one person which ones who did read over his law for a while now clear out of angels and various communities. it's wonderful. i voting is underway. evans hollow mitre elections, which the opposition parties on the bell for the 1st time since 2015. they were banned from the previous vote in 2019, which lead to violent protests against prison patrice. tell all the dangerous joins us from caetano in benito and. ringback what's the importance of these particular elections? first of all, it marks the return of the opposition to parliamentary politics after the ban. you mentioned in the introduction and that could give some people here in the republic, a sense of belonging, especially the opposition and their teaming puppy supporters. that yes, it's an inclusive election. apart from that women, exclusively given at least 25 seats in the 109 state parliament, which is significant to show women participation in billions political democracy now. and one of the most important aspect of this election is the representation in parliament. now the parliament just 109, and for every presidential candidate wishing to stand for election in the presidential elections coming up in 3 years now, must get been doors meant of members of parliament, fucked. a number of members of parliament and may, yes. across the country, so when the opposition now if they eventually get into parliament that will ease the way for them to stand in the election a president in 3 years time. now, if they don't get in that will be very difficult regarding today's election president, patrice stone has voted i showed a while ago. and he expressed satisfaction with the process so far and insisted that with the participation of the position now democracy can be said to have been restored here in benet republic. regarding the numbers, we don't see anything near what we saw during the presidential elections here. trickling into the venue, something selection here, where we funding now, there are 16 pull in boats. and so far we haven't seen a significant number of people like we saw during the presidential election. maybe the numbers will grow. maybe they may not. now, the most important thing that a lot of people are watching closely if what follows the election today. remember 50 years ago in 2003 or 4 years ago in 2019 violence ruptured on the street following the ban of the opposition from much of spreading parliamentary elections . how the election is conducted today, and the outcome of the election will determine whether or not that street will become on peace, maintain and be the republic. okay, thank you so much. that is on that a just for us and been in oh, still a hit on al jazeera, the metal vs gradually taking shape. although no one really knows what that shape would be. we explore the next generation of smart gadgets, or the biggest picture when the us plus ah, how impersonate is of the king of rock and roll, providing much needed bruce to strategy is economy. ah, hello, that record breaking a major flooding remains an issue across moving parts of australia. but before we get there, let's have a look at south east asia and the heavy rain continues with parts of indo china. it's not as heavy as it has been to places like vietnam, but we will see that rain intensify pulling across into cambodia and thailand. by tuesday, heavy rain continues across central areas of the philippines. we still have that extreme for the advisory for eastern areas here, but further south. well, we are seeing those seasonal rains with a mix of showers and storms. and it was the head down under. we've had the 1st tropical fi, cone of 2023, named in the south pacific. that's gonna bring some really wet and windy weather to the likes of the north island of new zealand. but for australia, look at that. kimberly region, still seeing that record breaking flooding and the fresh threat remains no. the wet weather has shifted its way further south and to the east. it's mainly queensland. it is going to see the worst of that wet weather, much dryer to the west of this. and to the southeast corner temperature. certainly on the up here as we go to new zealand, it is looking run a nice was south island on monday. but you can see that system bringing some very wet and windy weather to the north island by tuesday with plenty of rain in the bay of plenty. that sure weather. ah, i think of some of the biggest companies in the world today. all of them big take with algorithms that they call them, that we use them, the more data we produce. wearing the great rates, the data and big companies around the empires are rising on a wealth of information. and we are the commodity in the 2nd of a 5 part series, not a re examines where the corporations are colonizing the internet. like you meet the popularity and power of big tech on a jessia. ah ah, you're watching al jazeera reminder of our top stories. the salad. after nearly 3 years, china has reopened its borders, lifting covered 19 restrictions on all travelers. while services between hong kong and the mainland to have resumed the passengers are required to show a negative taste. iran is facing international condemnation. after hanging 2 men convicted of killing a member of a paramilitary force during anti government protests in november. amnesty international says the convictions relied on forced confessions. banana is holding parliamentary elections with opposition parties taking part for the 1st time since 2015. widespread protests were held after they were banned from the last vote. in 201946 soldiers from ivory coast accused by molly of being mercenaries have returned home. the group was pardoned on friday, 6 months after being detained. the soldiers arrest sparked a diplomatic dispute between the 2 countries, and monahan reports ha, celebrations in abidjan. after months of uncertainty. these ivory co soldiers were facing decades in a prison, and molly, but a pardon from the country's military government, allowed them to return home to pelham. unless does you, i will coast. molly, it's not the same thing. was very hard. i'm home now and i'm very happy. so now that he was arrested on duty, but to day we are the lead. we cried, we fostered, we prayed, and finally, god has answered us. i mean, joy, voice, fail, me are not yet present. allison watrice was there to greet them. the fate of the soldiers was at the center of months of diplomatic wrangling. the instant crated a rift between the 2 countries. but water make clear. he wants to put it behind them. yellow there, i would like you to know that ivory coast will continue to offer support to old brother, countries, african and others who need to evolve towards peace. as a boston said, without peace, there is nothing important for nation. peace is essential and you went to bring peace to molly, and i strongly hope that this brother country will find peace. once more. the troops were arrested in july. they were accused of being mercenaries and put on trial ivory. co says they were part of the united nations peacekeeping mission, but the un says they were for a company contracted by the peacekeepers, rather than directly as part of the mission. un forces have been deployed to the region for years as arm groups, friends, debility. but molly has been increasingly isolated since colonel a semi goiter sees power in military cou 2 years ago. the military government had missed deadlines for organizing elections. unblocked un forces for investigating lead violations of human rights. but the return of the soldiers was framed as a gesture of good will to the region, a possible sign that molly may be ready to re engage with the international community. vincent martin al jazeera with struggling economy and high unemployment st. most people in zimbabwe i believe, to be working informally now, some young graduates who can't find jobs are turning to farming her room. latasha reports from gorman's district unicoi, giacomo has a master's degree in international trade law. but finding a job in zimbabwe is difficult. so in 2018, he became a farmer. and now employes several people. the 30 year old is one part of a new generation of educated youths who work the land to create livelihoods. but navigating the country's farming industry isn't easy. the biggest challenge we've got is an issue for financial capital and her for even young people to be able to walk into a bank. you've got no collateral. you've got probably no history or you've got most dotted line to tell how valuable your business or your idea is. and also even the access to, to lent the state some banks and the private sector help finance farmers. but many say they can't get the help they need to get started. this country has a lot of fertile land, but since landra foreign, when commercial farms were seized from white and given to blacks and barbarians, some of that land is not being fully utilized. more young people here say they can help increase productivity in another part of the country, valerie mozilla and her husband are preparing to export watermelons to the middle east, zimbabwe. strategically located because most of this product grad getting it from australia in brazil. zimbabwe is just $21.00 to $28.00 days to dubai. whereas when you look at brazil, they are looking at over 35 days on water. old infrastructure, electricity shortages and, and inflation rate of more than 200 percent. are some of the factors holding back the ball was farmers? it really depends on the performance of the economy, whether you are going to be successful. it really depends on the performance of economist input economy improves. so at the profit prospects of from us, valerie believes farming could be one solution to the country's unemployment problem. but young people say for that to work, they must have access to the resources they need to thrive. had him attack algae there, gary monty district. the lovely ah fresh and shelling has killed at least one person in easton ukraine as moscow's unilateral cease fire ends. the ha keith governor says the victim was a 50 year old man. there were reports of fighting in the dumbass region as ukrainians and russians marked orthodox christmas. keith had rejected the 36 hour cease fire. it graciously, chill wouldn't have gotten his meal. by the way, once again the world has seen how deceptive any statement at any level coming from moscow is though saying something about the supposed cease fire. the reality however, was that russian trails once again hit back moot and all the ukrainian positions this here orthodox christmas. and keith was different with the war sewing divisions within the community. charles strafford reports from cave ah, churches have stood here for almost a 1000 years. gives elaborate. cathedral is one of the most important orthodox christian institutions in the world. but this year's christmas service is different if you are a barrier law for the 1st time. the liturgy is being delivered in ukrainian by a recently formed ukranian orthodox church. the centuries the ukrainian church is conducted the christmas service in ancient slavic, and russian times have changed. oh, certainly i saw it. i think people have changed the state of changing. we see historical justice and the nation is being formed. it's very important to eradicate everything russian from ireland, i guess, or russian church that oh, was here before i ever supports in like her rush centers in put in. so he was so know when lee jen, have rudy bring in church? i i'm really glad to oh, sentiments like these have been growing since roches illegal annexation of crimea and areas of the dumbass in 2014. they have now been institutionalized in the country that suffering a full scale invasion and more than 10 months of war as the newly formed orthodox church of your crying halls. christmas pres, here for the 1st time the ukrainian church affiliated with moscow has no choice but to hold a service at another site post by ukraine accuses it of supporting and even helping russia in the wool. something the church vehemently denies the priest. he is one of a number on a ukrainian sanctions list. the police and all me have rated numerous russian orthodox churches across ukraine since the war started orthodox priest metropolitan . clement says his church has no affiliation with moscow other than a spiritual one and accuses ukraine of flouting its own constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion worship. so my chief girl, simply let us have tom was sure. this is shown by the fact that the contract for the use of the cathedral by our church was terminated without appropriate procedures. another denomination was allowed to conduct the christmas service in the church inquiries tube, as it is aggressive and discriminatory towards the worshippers of our church. it reminds us of the situation that existed in the totalitarian days of the soviet union. condos. there are a few, a worshippers at this church on christmas morning. this is something though, sure, of course we're a little sad that to day we're not in a cathedral. that if god's well, the main thing is to pray humbly and then go to decide as needed. rushes invasion hasn't only pushed ukraine into the arms of the west. it's further dividing. it's all said ox christian communities to chance travel al jazeera, give hundreds of protests as have marched through the u. s. border city of el paso and texas. he had a visit on sunday, but sunday by president joe biden. it comes days after he announced measures to reduce the surgeon arrivals at the southern border. they include the deportation of up to $30000.00 migrants and refugees a month from cuba, nicaragua, haiti, and venezuela, gainesville valued again, not all of us, a bad people, and most of us came here to find a future for our children. not all of us came here to do bad things. i'm a family man and i came here to work and provide a better future for my daughter asleep with one of the world's largest technology of answers on to why in las vegas, the consumer electronics show offers a 1st look at the next generation of technology. reynolds has been trying out what's on offer ah, the roller coaster of new consumer technology has come to los vegas with thousands of companies showing off the new the cool in the kind of weird. some will hit the market with a fe, others will be duds. i could run down for you over the years, all the different trendy things that have been the next big thing. ah, and then the next year we come back and it's completely forgotten about among this years highlights l. g as a new wireless tv screen. no more messy cables. the content is streamed from a box that can be situated several meters away. the integration of tech into the automotive world continues. honda and sony have joined together to create a new company called a fella and which they're gonna make a brand new electric vehicle that's going to have the latest technology from sony in into team in, in sound quality in cameras to make a really smart electric vehicle. b, m w, as in a i equipped model that can talk to drivers and learn their preferences and it changes colors to suit your mood. they could have checkerboard patterns. you can have stripes i, if you want to have it blue one day and read another, you could do that, you could do whatever you like with it. augmented reality products are represented at sea. yes. including these cool head sets from us company, magic leap. the met, averse is gradually taking shape, although no one really knows what that shape will be. and by the way, where am i? sustainability is the theme at the show. john deer as a hybrid electric farm tractor. there are electric motorcycles, bikes, and scooters and even boats. developers hope to disrupt the maritime industry. bodies here is the navy a 30 ah, or in 30, as we call it, is that we're as long as range like that. i required any americans by select, retired by boat, and that he part of this is that it is 10 x efficient and traditional gas bag. and there are plenty of offbeat or just plain cookie products on display. this gizmo can scan your food and tell you how many calories you're going to eat. this one can sanitize your hands before dinner, and this thing can supposedly zap your brain and relieve anxiety or other unfortunate mental states. no, thanks. i'm not putting that on. rob reynolds al jazeera las vegas estrella is pricing for a potential increase in unemployment and economic slowdown as interest rights continue to rise. yet tourism is staging. a revival and one festival near sidney is drawer and crowd st. much needed revenue, wind high reports, you've got to follow that dream wherever that dream may lead. elvis presley, once crude for many impersonate is of the king of rock and roll. that dream leads to the small australian town of pox. o for a few days, every year. people of all ages from all around the world come here. this law for them. the annual pox elvis festival is australia's graceland. after 2 years of doing nothing and you know, us entertain as being in home. it's great to be back out again in the parks is buzzing. it's great for the economy for parks, and it's just great to see everything back up and running again. this is the 30th edition of the event which is returned after 2 years of pandemic disruptions. $25000.00 visitors are in town, providing the local economy with the boost of around $15000000.00. the heavier everything back in full swing after 3 years, a drought, 2 years of covered and to have it back in full swing is so important for the emotional benefits to the community. not only to help it recover from a difficult few you is, but also to prepare for what lies ahead. consumer confidence is falling in australia as interest rates rise. so 2023 is expected to be tough. it's quite a challenge for a lot of that small communities and our businesses. i, you know, we've seen plenty businesses closed out and you know, for, by the way, so, you know, during those drawing times i for now those worries have been set aside as 1000 channel. the king. it is the atmosphere, the paypal r e. every pub, cobb shop shop i and i dress up they, they.