kind of stardust we gatty. wow, it will be incredible. so we'll certainly be watching that launch just quickly before we go. if it is successful, what does this mean for future endeavors? what's next? what's we need to understand and get back in june and under the 5, which is going to come out from this. once that is done, there will be several more steps which adding wire. and then more telescopes can be to better understand the universe on the same lines like the word of exploring mars and moon. if you can explore earlier galaxy, understand where we jim brought. it may be easier to understand where we are going in the long run. it's really about looking into the future by getting into the boston. wow, it sounds like a lot to comprehend on christmas day, but sounds very exciting. thank you for breaking it down for us for lab lab by glad the science gen, lesson author of several books including reaching for the stars. appreciate your time on the news hour. thanks a lot. still ahead on al jazeera. i'm sorry, been job it in more than focused on and i'll tell you how changing but the buttons are having an impact on the lives of millions of people here. 30 years since the collapse of the soviet union. we look back on one of the 20th centuries, most, give it a moments and coming up in school, we hear from british cyclists to my cavendish own, as he reflects rather on a remarkable year. ah. your forecast for europe in africa coming out of right now. hello everyone. we've got rain draped across the united kingdom rate down toward the bottom end of iberia and temperatures have fallen quite quickly across germany. berlin, just minus 2. so it's what the ne, some dangerous driving there with black ice on the road. think the worst of the rain will be across the republic of ireland breezy as while, but still clipped to some showers for the south west of england and wales. but the worst of it really will be for iberia rounds of rain this weekend, both toward the south and the north that will come on monday. concentrated rain across italy, it stretches over the adria to exceed rate into croatia. it's also going to be breezy here as while some snow falling for austria rate into slovakia on saturday. temperatures have popped up in its stem ball, but breezing here as well through the boss for as seen those wind gusts up to about 50 kilometers per hour. it's quite unsettled for western areas of the top end of africa. so this is for morocco will go in for a closer look because we will see some drenching rains here, particularly from robot rate to mera cache. but this is going to be short lived, your dry off is your head toward sunday and your temperature is pop up above average. that's it. that's all see soon. ah, the it's the political, the breaks show that's challenging the way you think is a military advancement. going to stop the fan that ticket i use and the other company says united to now people are burying children are very upfront with me. markham, on hill, on out 0. i did 19 is a public health crisis that has been compounded by capitalism. alley raid navigates the big questions raised by the global pandemic power system based on private ownership. when the state of profit search the world in a ton of capitalism is the pandemic cause so much of the suffering exploited protect the people all the profit episode. one of all hail the look down on out his era in 2002 coins and bank notes mark the launch of the euro today is the official currency of 19 of the 27 member states of the european union . on the 20th anniversary of the euro entering circulation, al jazeera investigates how the eurozone benefited from having unofficial currency . lou ah, ah, hello, are you watching al jazeera? i'm emily anglin, a reminder about top stories this hour. more than 4000 flights have been cancelled worldwide throwing christmas travel plans into chaos. the highly transmissible all me from variant of the corona virus has affected flight crews of major airlines. the gabby is truth and reconciliation commission has recommended a former president via germaine stand trial for murder, torture, and right to my fled to exile in 2017. after refusing to accept defeat in presidential elections. and at least 13 people have drowned after a boat carrying migrants cap sized off of grace in the agency. is the 3rd such disaster in great waters in as many days when the combined death 12 to 27. at least 4 people in zimbabwe have been killed. after a boss collided with a fuel tank and burst into flames. the crash happened on a busy road connecting the eastern city of tear to the capital. herrera. witnesses reported. some people escaped before the explosion. communities in northern pakistan say melting blaze. he is putting their homes and livelihoods in danger. the country has more than $7000.00 black shoes, more than anywhere in the world except the polar regions. but climate change means some disappearing and fast in took part 2 of our special series on pakistan's watered challenges as i'm have been jade reports from the himalayan mountains. living 2500 meters above sea level. there are no grocery stores nearby. presented day begins with getting milk for her family. she lived in the idyllic parser, village with 3 glaciers meet in northern parts of thumb. but under the 3. com isn't ever present dangerous because those glaciers and melting and at different rates because of land erosion and floods are house, is now only 12 meters away from a riverbank present. his family lived in constant fear, not knowing where the another flood will sweep it all away. is that john said the, this used to be our agricultural 9. when i was a child, we had fruit orchards, and feel after massive glacial outflows became more frequent. it's all become part of the river. the whole area in the summer is the merged. we face constant danger. our village has lost cattle and lots of agricultural land and this area has become more dangerous. 7000000 people at risk from glacial league outburst floods of gloves as they look and known out of the 3000 or more glacier lakes in northern pakistan. the united nations development program says $33.00 dangerous shooters get any more than $600.00 acres of arable land. when lost to the river. many people living in pos who are angry at the government for not doing enough. they say that talk about warning systems and protection was never going to action a double thing to working with international partners who invest 40000000 dollars into saving lives and property. these ratios don't just affect the 70000000 people affect the 30000000 people who live in parker fund. we have a project which is looking at setting up early warning systems so that we can at least get, you know, humans out of harm's way. but the challenge is the infrastructure. the infrastructure gets damaged. 70 percent of the damage caused by these racial birth is on infrastructure. and that creates and creates an economic cost for august on scientists. servicing glacial fluctuations to understand the complex interactions involved in climate and glacier response. for its far reaching impact on global weather, focus on $7000.00 plus known glaciers make it home to more glacial life than anywhere on earth outside the polar regions. and within the himalayan region, i'll find glaciers as sensitive to climatic changes due to their very will out that you and debris covering the ice on the foothills of the himalayan mountain range that is erotic whether excessive rains cause flood. and a lack of rain means that waterways and springs such as this have dried up and there's very little snow on the mountain tops and that, but most of the population that risk is more than 80 percent of focus on fresh water comes from glaciers. this is a huge challenge for bargain on it's not on making started because of pakistan's emissions because of what is happening around the world on climate change. and we are getting affected by this an average country store about 40 percent of the water . but in pug fun, the figure is 9 percent and the rest goes to the sea. and environmentalists say, unless water consumption is reduced in farming and in urban areas, the precious resource will become increasingly scarce. as the planet forms from jared under the ocean near to him in mountain system. and in pathway about series is summer been jervey takes us to call his don means something pakistan where a decline in nearly rainfall has devastated the regions water supply. me. you can watch that for me to cim tate on sunday. saturday marks 30 years since the fall of the soviet union mikhail gorbachev have resigned to soviet president on this day in 1991 back in the end of the late seventy's and the u. s, as that was after filing to contain the full out of an attempted crew months earlier and independence movement among the soviet republics. so let's take a look at the events that led up to the end of a world power. it began with the 917 russian revolution workers and soldiers overthrew the roman empire and established a communist rule in the government was led by letting me linen until his death in 924. joseph stalin took over for almost 3 decades that contributed to its status as a will power. but by the time mikaela gorbachev's became communist party. later in 1985, the economy was wake. it led to industrial strikes and military tanks, taking over a red square to challenge his rule. a current was attempted by president boris yeltsin led a successful campaign against it. in 1991, colbert chang resigned, and the red flag was lowered over the kremlin. as the russian flag was raised to bring us some analysis on me, let's bring in samuel romani, who's a shooter and specialist on the russian foreign policy at oxford university. he joined us via skype. hello there, samuel, thanks for being on this news our. what do you go? whichever resignation, symbolize all those decades ago? some historians, this is a true pat question. some historians believe it could have actually held on teens position and safety u. s. s. to agree? well, i think that by the time 991 and rolled around the soviet union's position as basely untenable the majority of soviet republics at arctic regions seed. the soviet union was undergoing the huge economic crisis including hyperinflation. and the united states. was that keenly supporting our garbage has resignation in the past over to boris yeltsin and transition towards democracy and the free market. so gorbachev's resignation was in part a product of a conference of forces that were almost unavoidable. what had been those consequences since they could collapse of the soviet union, particularly on the currency of political climate over to legacy initially, all true the chair, transition towards an attempted democracy, the transition towards a free market privatization, the easing of cold war. tensions was followed by an improvement of us russian relations intermittently over the next 15 years. but now under vladimir hooton's leadership, we've seen these at reverse. we've seen authoritarian consolidation. we've seen, di, stayed on companies taking over private enterprises and even more importantly, we've seen a return to systemic confrontation between russia and the last that was arguably sharper than it was 19. it is my next question is about the impact now i guess how has the collapse of the soviet union impacted applied into the current tensions between russia and ukraine? well, i mean, obviously wraps the soviet union debt was one of the major antecedents for gas. the violation of ukrainian sovereignty, des, ukraine recognized that it was an independent state, a recognized they would be able to choose zone foreign policy orientation route. but many people inside russia, especially the hardliners, who oppose the so ini, disillusion and supported the 1991 to the people who back hooton's rise to power. do not view ukraine as a fully sovereign country. they be desired official country and that clash over ukrainians. abe's play out today. what has been the full out economic lane since the fall of the soviet union, and is that still having an impact today? well obviously the former soviet republics, when a multiple different trajectory, sound like the baltic states is donya lot via millennia were able to enter the european union were able, she's vision towards market economies were able to develop dynamic, innovative, private sectors. if those that were decided by corruption, others, like bella, ruth largely stayed the same as the as so business done with minor tweaking the planned economy, so largely in place and sound like russia and ukraine. i do on partial reforms in russia in particular, there was a cute economic depression and deb organized crime and a breakdown of law and order in the 1st decade after the soviet claps. and now we've seen a degree of stabilization, at least on the streets, but also a resistance to diversification or resistance to reform as early resemblance of the late 19 seventies and early 19 eighties. while we appreciate your analysis as always on this news, our samuel romani at uter and specialist on russian foreign policy. thank you. thank you. christian communities around the world and doing their best to celebrate christmas. despite the pandemic churches in india's capital, new jelly a brightly lit, but some remain close to worshippers and praise. have taken place outside in go and chin i. the gates are open and people have been singing carols. christians in south korean, meanwhile, gathered for socially distance services, the churches are at 70 percent capacity, and all worship is, must be fully vaccinated cobit deaths. there are heating record highs, and more than 100. a day. pope frances says, urged the world to look beyond the lights and decorations during the festive season, and remember the pole, the end of the roman catholic church said serving others is more important than seeking status or success. it's the 2nd time christmas eve mass has been held at saint peter's basilica in the vatican. since the pandemic began. and it's really, it's an honor to get to see this during such a big holiday like this of the so the center of christianity and the biggest hall day of the year. so i think i'm lucky, good to get to see this. and especially during covered you know, so yeah i, i'm very, very honored to be here and i love it. it's very beautiful. the, i'm with the dormer, the arc we're looking, we hope to return to what we call normality. because this is not a life we can call normal and by the standards we are just to that. so 2022 will free us city. i'm okay. i don't have a fear about their, the garbage because he's how are life we are, john? so we need to, we need to do something different because if you are, we need to live. we need to live the threat christians in the besieged garza strip, say they're unable to celebrate christmas freely. some be born, say israeli security personnel have blocked them from accessing wholly sites in jerusalem. and bethlehem, making it impossible to mark the festive season with family una, i'll say it has moved a reset. sorry. i was trying to create some christmas cheer at her home in godsa the tree self and her grandson is helping with the decorations. for his sake, she is trying not to let her disappointment show. she did not see many members of her family and hasn't seen some for years because of the blockade and garza some had to leave home to find work overseas. gordon as a man in his grandma was in the past. we used to get together and gather all the family at christmas. but to day there's no one left. they've all gone abroad and christmas has no flavor. we can't even travel from here to meet them because of the restrictions. ah, those christians left in the gaza strip, had to abandon any hope of celebrating christmas into holy cities of bethlehem and jerusalem. because of israel is security restrictions. in 20192020 no permits were granted. and although this year israel said $500.00, the $1000.00 christians in garza would be allowed to go there. still a major problem. yeah, i hear people here say israel only granted the permits to one or 2 members of the same family, which would mean entire families being split up at christmas if they traveled as long as alone. possibly her permits could be granted to half of the same family after we all apply either just the parents or just the kids. but either way, it means that we can travel our sense of joy is missing. we wish israel would give us our right to visit our holy sites, like every one else in the world. ah muslim sim garza had long shared christmas celebrations with the minority christians lighting the tree and sending christmas greetings to each other. this year we are able to do it and re insert the go. if it's the sample for love, please freedom and we will continue doing this. we hope. next year, we will go farther to how does union freedom for the senior coupon based on just a brief. and we hope that we're all on the scene and people live in such a freedom across what is prayers are held in the soul orthodox church. she godsa, but there is a feeling christians here are missing out on the experience, enjoyed by others of their faith christmas for christian think gods, the remains incomplete. but they pray and hope that next year they would be able to reunite with family and friends in bethlehem or elsewhere. you mislead elses, iraq, gods, still head. don't al jazeera, as the rao about releasing plays for the africa cup of nations. rambles on one of manchester, cities star names, ease hitting for the tournament. more on that in sport, coming out with chima. ah, [000:00:00;00] with ah, there's a lot more to al jazeera than tv with our website mobile app, social media, and podcast. al jazeera digital is a world of award winning online content and portal bring view the very best of it. they're trying to broaden the people to levy to go somewhere else. the truth is that the well to go, so if you missed it online, catch up here with me. sandra gatlin on our designer. lou ah ah, it's time for sport, he's jim. thank you. emily. as the world's top football leagues raised concerns about releasing players for the africa cup of nations, french wild cup when an arsenal legend, patrick vieira says the tournament deserves more respects. the crystal palace manager who was born in senegal, thinks the competition is as important as the european championship european clubs threatening not to send players to coming to the torment. after raising doubts about the crone of ours protocols in place. but we ever says he would never stop any of his players from competing. his comments come after the organization representing of the world's leading domestic leagues, wrote to pfeifer and the confederation of african football to say that seems i shouldn't have to release players until january 3rd. not be only 6 days before the start of the tollman that complaining that its starting earlier than usual. and they're also concerned about corona virus protocols encountering but the tone of the letter perhaps go down badly in parts of african football because the word leaks form do say you're getting these players for nothing. basically incense of they're being paid by the clubs and they're helping to generate the revenue for asking football while lamb going out to play in the african. but of course clubs in countries like england, you benefit from plays being developed in africa. so they get the talent, but this is a rumbling round. now in the build up to the south of the account with clubs determined as well, not to lose their ret players too early for liverpool. they could get their plays for an additional 2 games if they aren't released until the 1st week of january, for the african combinations. and as such an influence potentially on things like the title, rice, but no word back yet from caff over. how they're going to respond to this demand from the worldly explorer. manchester says he's a rad marez is one of the biggest names competing at the tournament. he's been named in algeria squad and will captain the defending champion, ask david 19 continues to impact world sports. the l h l is decided to delay the return of the regular season. the holiday break started 2 days early after a rise in cases and the season was due to begin again on monday. but this is now being pushed back by a day to allow the lead more time to analyze testing results and to assess if clubs are ready to resume playing. it means all 14 games scheduled for december 27th, have been caught off. that's not total of 60 falsified. so far this season. 2021 was an incredible yet for british a sprint cyclists mach cavendish, which he described as nothing short of a fairytale after a 2 year absence from the sports most prestigious race. the 36 year old, one full stages that this year told of france to equal the all time record held by edi mug. his achievements made all the more remarkable off battling back from depression and epstein bomb virus, which meant he could hardly walk up stairs, let alone ride his bike. felt like before i was, i was going out fishing, but with holes in my net. and i was being told to catch fish on your like with locker, could probably catch fish. but that haldeman that if you make my job water is making it quite impossible to catch a fish. and i just wanted to get a net that net now many oles in it and that's what happened this year. like, don't get me wrong. i worked, worked, and i took a lot of sacrifice to make sure i got that am for my i got that and i had to catch a fish casa, what's hate me more this year than, than anything was the support of i'd from from cycling fans and non so i can find a like, you know, and i really felt people were on a journey with me this year and especially at the, to a front and there on it, warmed me. you know, like i really felt instead of watching me do what day people were living with me and kind of been amazing. i sat at the beginning the year, like, i'm not looking for a fairy tale on. actually i got a fairy tale, you know, and someone show that i wrote a book of geno like it was kind of hard to say like, i didn't believe it, but i believed i'd be back by terms of our off and lay wow. speaking is great comebacks. england's cricket his will certainly need one of those to rescue the ashes that tino down. and last when the 3rd test to keep the series alive. but as well as a confident australia aside to contend with the $80000.00 strong crowd at melbourne . cricket ground on boxing day with course largely be reaching for the home team, but both sides looking forward to the special atmosphere. it was also my bill. i had locked out for a few years. is getting the honda civic could actually series. well, it's a little bit louder and supporting our car wide. it's both boxes died a few years ago. we bought the families around toys, special ashes one's got a, a it's a brilliant event to be involved. and i mean, just an actual series out here is assuming it, every player wants to be able to get a chest plan of up to that. that's much very special. and with where the, the series is post currently to really exciting opportunity. clearly we're gonna have to pay a lot better than we have done so far in the 1st 2 games. but i expect you to do yourself. ah, that is all your sport for now. i'll have more for you later. emily. thank you very much. jim. are a merry christmas to you and your family party. all right that. so for us this is our state. you know, so i will have warnings shortly. ah, ah, americans are increasingly say authoritarianism might not be so bad. there were several steps along the way where the chain of command it's you like tried to cover what's your take on why they've gotten this so wrong? that to me is political. mal brockman, the bottom line on us politics and policies, and the impact on the world. on al jazeera al jazeera sets the stage are lots of women carrying very young children. this one, for example, is only among kind of half global lex bugs and discussion color. something about the impact on the climate change is having on the follows that you work with voices from different corners. when the whales are empty, people fight for programs that open your eyes to a low, tentative view. i don't have collage people. i have my boys on al jazeera from the al jazeera london broke authenticate to people in thoughtful conversation with no host and no limitations. this decade is the most consequential decade in events is da fought to many companies that are doing bad things in the front. in part 2 of human rights activists, q, me 90 and environmental. if we known and the teeth, the systems are not working. but the longer that you fight them, the more that things change studio be unscripted on out his era. we understand the differences and similarities of cultures across the world. so no matter what lucy al jazeera will bring you the news and current affairs that matter to you out as in europe. ah. ready ah, we'll see what happens. oh, my fighting cancer. oh, mccolan throws travel plans into disarray, rising cases of the very end. false thousands of flight cancellations worldwide. ah, hello sir robin. you are watching of their life. my headquarters here in doha,