Abuse but the army says theyre making it up. Thank you for joining us we begin with the coronavirus pandemic now in a new phase with countries racing to pull vaccines but in some parts of the world the picture is getting worse with cases on the rise as winter approaches since the start of the pandemic have been more than 64000000 confirmed cases and nearly 1500000 deaths iran is now the hardest hit country in the middle east and has passed 1000000 confirmed cases over 1000 has killed almost 50000 people there are the Health Minister says the actual number of deaths is probably much higher iran introduced tougher restrictions to counter a 3rd wave of infections which included closing nonessential businesses russia has reported more than 28000 new infections. On thursday the highest spike yet the 2nd largest city St Petersburg has announced restrictions around the new Year Holidays indonesia meanwhile is seeing a record daily rise in cases reporting more than 8300 on thursday and several
A decision be made on which to take and what data to trusts also this hour a hong kong prodemocracy activist and media mogul jimmy lie is denied bail as he faces charges of fraud and a different type of exam season half a 1000000 students in south korea tackle the most important day in their academic calendar. And on peoples temple the school says n. B. A. Players get back to training the Houston Rockets trade old stalled home gold Russell Westbrook to the Washington Wizards. Thank you very much for joining as we begin this hour with the coronavirus pandemic in a new phase with countries racing to approve vaccines but in some parts of the world the picture is getting worse with cases on the rise as winter approaches since the start of the pandemic theyve been more than sea. 34000000 confirmed cases and nearly 1500000 deaths iran is now the hardest hit country in the middle east and has passed 1000000 confirmed cases over 1000 has killed almost 50000 people there but the Health Minister
The demonstrators are furious about cuts to education and health care in the latest budget. And in the bundesliga, all eyes were on mines. Striker sean, freely as his side typewrite more visit on nationality act. Im rebecca richs. Welcome to the program. In hong kong 3 prominent activists has pleaded guilty as a trial begins over their involvement in last years prodemocracy, protests joshua long ivan lamb, and agnes chao where all expecting jail terms for inciting and organizing an unauthorized assembly. The charges are related to a protest outside of Police Headquarters in june of last year on kongs prodemocracy movement has faltered since beijing imposed a sweeping National Security law on the territory that has severe. He restricted political speech. Joshua wang has now been remanded in custody, but before entering court, he had a message of defiance. The support is neither prison bars, no election, both nor any other arbitrary power will stop us from activists on. What we are doing
Woke up this morning to learn of the news and many are shocked and horrified including myself and i think this is sent out a very very negative message and of course it must have a Chilling Effect on people who want to speak out and particularly on the news media so this is a very very Disturbing Development although maybe maybe not unexpected but i and people say that hong kong no longer has the rule of law so i hope that jimmy lie and those of the people who have been a rest will be able to have their rights protected and of course if the authorities have evidence i hope they will come out with it because such allegations have been made for a long time and up to now they have to do is no evidence i think that we have seen quite oh increasing amount of selfcensorship amongst the news media some local media even say that that maybe there are some current politicians that they may not or should not interview and they are stories they should not write and also the edge of made telling th
Didnt leave too angry at a Political Class they blame for tuesdays blast that killed dozens and destroyed and damaged many neighborhoods in the lebanese capital the authorities were aware that thousands of tons of highly explosive material was stored at the beirut port for years we have survived the explosion but part of all of us has died to be honest but what can we do i am one of the fortunate ones who can leave and establish myself outside but all these people cannot so what can we do what they did was return to the streets they have been demanding a new leadership for months many were injured in running battles that lasted for hours but this time they say they wont be silenced they want justice and revenge for the victims of the explosion and believe a government led inquiry into the disaster wont hold senior officials accountable. We are not leaving if you go to them or us in this country and you know what the people always pick and we will fight we want revenge and all revenge i