after last year's covid gloom. welcome to world news america on pbs, in the uk and around the globe. we begin tonight in ethiopia, where the latest conflict is one—year—old — ti—grayan rebel forces are now advancing towards the capital, addis ababa. the war has killed thousands, displaced millions, and left civilians on the brink of famine. the us special envoy to the horn of africa is in ethiopia tonight, calling for a peaceful solution to the conflict. kenya's president has called for an immediate ceasefire. rebels from the northern ti—gray region say they've taken three key towns in the last week. the us embassy has told americans in ethiopia to leave immediately. our correspondent — kalkidan yibeltal reports from addis ababa. a tragedy on a massive scale in which displacement and hunger are everyday realities for millions in northern ethiopia. fighting without an end in sight. a once vibrant economy that is now enfeebled by this war. the past 12 months have been one of the toughest for the east african country. it was supposed to be a short and surgical operation and the government forces and allies were winning it easily. over the following months, it evolved into a full—scale war. emboldened by military gains, rebel forces now talk about toppling the government. translation: why would| the issue of negotiation be raised at this point? the war is coming to an end. who are we negotiating with? there have been repeated calls for negotiations but these calls have been rejected. talks in addis ababa are still about defeating the tigray forces who once dominated ethiopian politics for decades despite representing just 6% of the population. that dominance ended when abiy ahmed came to power in 2018 following popular protests. tensions continued to ferment and war was declared following an attack on an army base in the capital. translation: the pit- the enemy dug is very deep. it will be where they- themselves will be buried. north ethiopia disintegrates. with millions depending on aid and hundreds of thousands facing famine, humanitarian agencies fear things could get even worse. at the present moment, we do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. the message to all parties to a conflict is always the same, the earlier we find a political solution bringing us out of the conflict, the better it is. because let's not fool ourselves, even if the conflict stopped tomorrow, we will still have hundreds of thousands of people displaced and with enormous needs. the early promises of reform now seem to be in the dim distance. the next weeks and months are going to be crucial in deciding the direction of the war, but it is unlikely that peace will prevail. and for millions in northern ethiopia, the war has already taken its toll. after he filed that report, kalk—idan sent this update on the mood in ethiopia's capital. exactly a year after the war began there is still no end in sight. in fact, it's moving fast south and approaching the city. the capital of addis ababa. residents have been told to register any press no weapons they possess and organize themselves in their neighborhoods to defend their city. and be vigilant of what the government calls infiltrators. and nationwide measures of state of emergency have been declared as prices continue to make advances and considers marching on the capital. however there appears to be a feeling of normality here with everyday activities continuing as they were but the tension is palpable and growing. we go to the climate conference in glasgow now, where the topic today was the future without coal. the fossil fuel is said to be the single biggest contributor to climate change. now, a0 countries have agreed to stop using coal. but not the us, china, india or australia, as rebecca morelle reports. a warning from the united nations. listen up people. i know a thing or two about extinction. going extinct is a bad thing. they say we need to stop climate change before it's too late, but to do that, fossil fuels will have to become a thing of the past. today at the climate conference, the talk is all about energy, and top of the list is phasing out coal. this fossil fuel is the biggest single contributor to climate change, and more than a0 countries have now committed to move away from it. i do believe that the end of coal is in sight. i do believe we're getting to a point where we consign coal power to history. the agreement includes coal—reliant countries like poland and south korea, but missing are the us, india and, most significantly, china, where half of the world's coal is burned. it has the biggest transition, the biggest challenges and needs to really drive a structural change in its energy system. today's precedence and movement really increases the pressure for them to come up with a solution sooner rather than later. moving away from coal is the future aim, but what's happening to greenhouse gas emissions now? since the �*90s, carbon dioxide levels have been mainly rising, but during the pandemic, when the world shut down, they fell sharply. this year, though, they've increased rapidly again, to almost the same amount. behind those numbers is really a big rebound in coal in particular. and so probably what is happening is that the stimulus packages to go out of covid, because they have stimulated the current economy, which is a fossil fuel economy. but if we're to get to net zero emissions, what do we do about oil and gas? they've been filling some of the gaps behind coal, but some countries like costa rica and denmark are setting a date to end their use. and other nations at cop26 are expected to do the same. but closer to home, the uk government has a pending decision over plans for a new coal mine in cumbria to provide energy for the steel industry, pitting localjobs against the government's coal—cutting ambitions. some nations, though, will face even tougher choices about their energy future, but scientists are clear our reliance on fossil fuels needs to end fast. rebecca morelle, bbc news, glasgow. using less coal means that countries need to find other ways to generate power. and that opens the door to more solar energy. take lebanon, which has plenty of sunshine — which has become a source of energy — as carine torbey reports. i make the crops, there is one bright side. solar energy. in the 90s that bankrupt country. it can provide field, medicine or electricity but it's a place that is sunny for most of the year and the people here are starting to capitalize on that. for over a0 years, successive governments in lebanon have not been able to provide full—time electricity. generators have filled the gap. but with prices of diesel rising dramatically and a national grade often going off—line many are resorting to... here in south lebanon over 20 women prepare and sell seasonal food. lebanon over 20 women prepare and sell seasonalfood. for lebanon over 20 women prepare and sell seasonal food. for this time of the year it's the clean season. bake at of electricity per day. but a solar power system installed years ago by greenpeace keeps the place running. the expenses of electricity and fuel is redirected to help us expand their operation. it is also another important benefit. we are now saving a lot of time and effort that used to be wasted on getting energy. the real search is the driven by increasing power cuts from both the state and there private generate series is the main driver in the jump series is the main driver in the jump in solar energy generation in the country from 100 megawatts to over 200 megawatts injust one the country from 100 megawatts to over 200 megawatts in just one year. convenient as it is, solar power generators are worth thousands of dollars. it only a choice for the few who can afford it. fit dollars. it only a choice for the few who can afford it.- few who can afford it. at this moment. — few who can afford it. at this moment. yes. _ few who can afford it. at this moment, yes, solar- few who can afford it. at this moment, yes, solar energy. few who can afford it. at this l moment, yes, solar energy for residential use is expensive. let's we are witnessing a large number of lebanese citizens going to install the solutions but however the good part of the story is while some lebanese i'm starting some assistance other than the enemies will benefit from the convention said it's a win—win for everybody. clean energy is good news for anywhere in the world but here it's simply a side benefit. so energy in lebanon is not about getting cleaner but about having any energy at all. let's return to our top story, one year war in ethiopia. and we can bring in democratic congressman brad sherman, who sits on the house foreign affairs committee, and has been following events in ethiopia closely. you have been speaking out about the unfolding humanitarian crisis, how concerned are you tonight about the intensifying fighting? this concerned are you tonight about the intensifying fighting?— intensifying fighting? this is the one- ear intensifying fighting? this is the one-year anniversary _ intensifying fighting? this is the one-year anniversary of - intensifying fighting? this is the one-year anniversary of an - intensifying fighting? this is the - one-year anniversary of an unfolding one—year anniversary of an unfolding tragedy. the ap now reports that more people face by famine in tigres neither ethiopia then facetime them and all the other trouble spots around the world. this is a real tragedy. 0ur committee voted unanimously for resolution. it uses the word genocide to describe what's happening in tigres. find the word genocide to describe what's happening in tigres.— happening in tigres. and you have called for the _ happening in tigres. and you have called for the us _ happening in tigres. and you have called for the us navy _ happening in tigres. and you have called for the us navy to - happening in tigres. and you have called for the us navy to get - called for the us navy to get involved. what exactly do you want them to do to try and get aid to people who are on the brink of starvation?— people who are on the brink of starvation? ., ., ., , starvation? now, i want to see the trucks running _ starvation? now, i want to see the trucks running into _ starvation? now, i want to see the trucks running into tigres - starvation? now, i want to see the trucks running into tigres with - trucks running into tigres with food. i listed a variety of different options he can take. 0bviously different options he can take. obviously it starts with diplomacy and it starts with working with so many groups towards a cease—fire but if we see the prospect of a genocide and we see the eritrean government participating in that. eritrea is a costal country and it enjoys commerce on all of the high seas and if it participates in a genocide that we will have to take a look at all the options. some have suggested all the options. some have suggested a no—fly zone and that obviously exposes american forces to much greater risk than doing something in one of the worlds many oceans. the us special envoy is in ethiopia tonight. international efforts to halt the fighting so far have completely failed. what are you hoping they could achieve? fix, hoping they could achieve? a cease—fire i did not heal your question that clearly. he has some technical difficulties but a cease—fire would be so beneficial to all the parties involved and in agreements to allow the food shipments in is so critical. and all parties have some pain here and a un human rights commissioner has issued a report in the last 2a hours saying there has been atrocities on all sides but seeing the vast majority of those atrocities have been committed by the ethiopian government and eritrean government thatis government and eritrean government that is interfering in a civil war that is interfering in a civil war thatis that is interfering in a civil war that is not its civil war. thank you forjoining us tonight. in other news from around the world... the world health organisation has warned that europe is once again the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. the w—h—0 said the continent could face another half a million deaths before winter is out if the outbreak isn't brought under control. germany in particular has been hard hit recently, with nearly 3a—thousand new cases reported in the past 2a hours, a new record. the russian analyst who was the primary researcher on an infamous dossier which alleged ties between donald trump's 2016 campaign and russia, was arrested today. igor danchenko faces charges of lying to the fbi. it's the third indictment as part of an investigation begun under trump sjustice department into the origins of the russia probe. uk lawmaker 0wen paterson has resigned from parliament, after recent controversy over standards in public life. he was found to have broken lobbying rules and was facing suspension. the conservative former cabinet minister says he wants a life "outside the cruel world of politics' and denies wrongdoing. however, other mps say he needs to be held to account for his actions. australian police have charged a thirty—six year old man with the abduction of a four year old girl , clio smith. her disappearance from a campsite caused a national outcry. authorities say the man has no connection with the family. cleo was found playing with dolls inside a locked house eighteen days after she went missing. the biden administration has set january ath as the deadline for comapnies with more than 100 workers to ensure they're fully vaccinated. if they haven't had the jab, the workers must be tested. 0therwise, their companies will face fines. 0ur washington correspondent nomia iqbal has the latest. up up until now, president biden has avoided imposing the nationwide vaccine mandate. he has been giving incentives to businesses and individuals instead. but the delta variant is rising. if that 58.1% of the country vaccinated and he is changing strategy. this is seen as the nationwide safety standard and the nationwide safety standard and the american workplace may you have where he will require businesses to get their employees. to be adequately vaccinated wire to be regularly tested. we are talking about 80 million americans and something that's important to know if this is the first time a federal standard has been set where a respiratory virus that coronavirus outside it seems an occupational hazard outside health care cellular be considered in the workplace in the same way you would consider dangerous machinery a hazard. so it is a big move by him but he will be next by a lot of resistance. as a leading militant resistance in this country to vaccine mandates. you have people in some workplaces who have people in some workplaces who have walked out and of course the republicans are usually against it. they think it's dangerous federal overreach byjoe biden. nomia iqbal reporting from washington. you're watching bbc world news america. still to come on tonight's programme: the first of its kind a pill to treat covid is approved by uk health officials. this summer greece was ravaged by wildfires, after the country s worst heatwave in decades. bethany bell, who reported on the fires in august, sent us this report on how greece is doing now. this summer, greece was on fire. the fire on the islands was the biggest increase since records began. it was a magnifier and intense blaze which burned out of control for days. many people were forced to freeze their homes. wildfires in the mediterranean are common. but firefighters say this years magnifiers were unprecedented. the raging flames destroyed huge slaves of forests. a third of the islands territory. these forests should eventually reach generate but it will take years for the trees to grow back. and with more heat waves forecast their fare magnifiers grow back. and with more heat waves forecast theirfare magnifiers in the mediterranean could become the new normal. the uk has become the first country in the world to approve an anti—viral pill against covid. in trials the drug, called mol-new pira-vir, was shown to cut the chances of dying or being hospitalised in half. uk authorities have bought enough supplies to treat nearly half a million covid patients. here's our medical editor fergus walsh. a parable that can stop covid—19 extracts. explain the goal of scientists since the pandemic began. now, there is a new drug likely to be the first of many antiviral treatments. and though he tested positive for coronavirus on tuesday. and hasjust positive for coronavirus on tuesday. and has just started a five day course of the drug as part of the trial in liverpool. she's had cancer and is more vulnerable to covid—19. it's a life or death situation. i do have a family i need to think about and i need to be half of them and if this gives me the opportunity to be around for my son's wedding and everything else then so be it. idietitian everything else then so be it. when coronavirus — everything else then so be it. when coronavirus and _ everything else then so be it. when coronavirus and fax _ everything else then so be it. when coronavirus and fax sounds - everything else then so be it. when coronavirus and fax sounds it - everything else then so be it. when coronavirus and fax sounds it makes multiple copies of itself. the drug originally designed to treat the flu introduces errors in the virus's genetic: which hampers its ability to spread. it's over a year since the clinical research facility at royal liverpool university hospital began testing the drug on patients. global trials have shown me a times the chances of dying or being hospitalized covid—19. the chances of dying or being hospitalized covid-19.- the chances of dying or being hospitalized covid-19. have a drug like this antiviral _ hospitalized covid-19. have a drug like this antiviral that _ hospitalized covid-19. have a drug like this antiviral that is _ hospitalized covid-19. have a drug like this antiviral that is potent - like this antiviral that is potent thatis like this antiviral that is potent that is able to be taken already is a very important moment and marks a milestone in our discovery of effective mass against covid—19. the effective mass against covid-19. the uk awarded — effective mass against covid—19. the uk awarded 480,000 courses of not uk awarded a80,000 courses of not the drug with the first dose is expected to arrive here later this month. it's been approved for people with at least one risk factor for covid—19 such as being of a 60, obese or having heart disease. it's most effective when given within five days of symptoms appearing. the cost of the drug has not been revealed that in the us it's £500 per patient. the uk was the first country in the world to authorize the advisor and astrazeneca vaccine. and can now regulators here have led the way by improving the drug. it'll be months before doctors know how effective it outside trials. but antivirals look set to play a key role in keeping covid—19 patients out of hospital. halloween is over, so thanksgiving is next here in the us — and then the holidays. yes, it'sjust over 50 days until christmas — and retailers in the uk are hoping for some holiday cheer after last year's covid gloom. to get people shopping, the big stores like m and s and john lewis have released their festive ads — as our business correspondent emma simpson reports. # i only knew you... you know christmas is coming when thejohn lewis ad hits the screen. a heart—warming tale of a space traveller crash landing on earth. today, a blizzard of blockbuster ads. last christmas was a wash—out, thanks to covid—19. retailers hope we'll celebrate in style this time. we are ready. we are pulling out all the stops. and here at m&s, they say shoppers have started early. it's a very big moment. customers have told us they want a bigger and more magical christmas than ever this year. and we can see them getting organised earlier than ever too. you know, about half of our customers have said they are going to have all their presents bought by the end of this month. can you believe it? is already looking festive in this big mall. have you started your christmas shopping? i have. i'm nearly finished because i've got four kids. and they all asked for big items, so, yeah. i'm nearly done. are you a bit worried about shortages? i was, yeah. because of what they wanted. definitely not, it's too early, sorry. i yeah, i started in september. boy, we could all do with a good christmas this time around. many retailers, though, are still dealing with global supply chain problems. sainsbury�*s warning today for instance there will be fewer electronic gadgets. so how worried should shoppers be? there'll be plenty of stock about. you should be a little bit concerned if it's something very special you want to buy and you might want to get that early. but the retailers want to get us into stores now. they want to get us buying at full price. they don't want to discount to us. but retailers do want their tills to be ringing, and the earlier the better. emma simpson, bbc news. do remember reports and before we go tonight you might remember hearing about a �*jetpack man�* flying high above los angeles last year. it was quite a sight for the city of angels. well now investigators say that it might not have been a man at all —— but rather a balloon. police footage shows what looks like a life size halloween decoration that drifted away into the sky. more specifically, it's apparently a life—sized balloon effigy of jack skellington, from the 1993 tim burton film �*the nightmare before christmas'. a fitting story just a few days after halloween. i'm laura trevelyan. thank you for watching world news america. from northern scotland and nine mbytes put on an amazing show last night. the viewing opportunities tonight but we are fighting against cloud cover which is increasing into those areas which have a greater chance of seeing the northern lights and with the cloud they will be a few outbreaks of rain moving in as well. it is a cloudier looking picture across scotland and northern ireland the night in england at the night goes on. some patchy rain and wanted to cloud breaks out there. temperatures will be edging up tonight s sterry frost across parts of wales but especially england and the clear areas going into the mining. things are changing this weather front mining. things are changing this weatherfront is moving mining. things are changing this weather front is moving south and the one with the cloud and the patchy rain but also less to air coming in from the atlantic. it will turn milder of the next two days. early sunshine and south east england will be lost in the cloud. spots of rain and more drizzle towards western heroes. 0utbreaks spots of rain and more drizzle towards western heroes. outbreaks of rain continuing in northwest scotland. it is more of a western and northern breeze during the day so it's a source of less cold air coming in. expecting highs of 912 celsius. it is still the chance of seeing a few splashes of rain especially in northwest scotland but for many places it's looking drive. the breezes picking up and get the reindeer into the weekend. the pressure is he able to turn things later on saturday in a city in scotland and northern ireland. the rain south during saturday and it will begin as it does but throughout saturday across wales and west in england patchy rain especially the coast and the hills with a substantial burst of rain south as we going to saturday afternoon and evening. at the afternoon goes on the window pick up as well and it will be valuing the sunday across northern scotland 60, 70 mph on the coast with high tides and it could be dangerous waves around and there's plenty of showers on sunday and the wind will slowly be eating elsie on sunday it is going to be windy and blustery but plenty of dry weather around and the best of the sun shining eastern areas and temperatures close to if not above the seasonal average. this is bbc news i'm christian fraser. the conservative mp at the center of a row over standards in public office has quit after a major government u—turn. 0wen paterson resigned after the prime minister abandoned plans to rip up the parliament s standards system, in order to block the mp's suspension. a world first — a pill — designed to treat covid — is approved by the uk medicines regulator. workers in the biggest economies are leaving theirjobs in record numbers — in what has been dubbed the great resignation. we'll look at why — and what employers might do to stop it. plus the hunt for the los angeles jetpack man looks like it's been solved — we will explain.