♪ host: british scientists say a newly identified covid-19 variant in southern africa is the most concerning they have seen. ♪ hello and welcome. you watching al jazeera live. in an exclusive interview the deputy head of sudan's ruling council says last month's military takeover was the best

available option. vigil was held for those who died trying to cross the emotional a day after almost 30 migrants drowned. a russian -- that's years exposing soviet crimes fight against efforts to be shut down. ♪ let's get going, our top story, u.k. scientists are describing a new covid-19 variant identified in southern africa is the most concerning they have seen yet. the u.k. health security agency says it has mutations that could make it spread and infect people more easily. it adds the variant spike protein is dramatically different to the original coronavirus that covid-19 vaccines based on. south african scientists say they detected the variant in small numbers of people so far.

cases have been seen in botswana and hong kong. >> the early indications we have of this variant is that it may be more transmissible than the delta variant and the vaccines that we currently have may be less effective against it. our scientists are deeply concerned about this variant, i am concerned and this is one of the reasons we have taken this action today. we do not know enough about this variant. the u.k. knows more than most because of the excellent work we do on surveillance but i think it is right we take this approach and remain cautious. host: let's bring in an epidemiologist and senior fellow at the federation of american scientists -- sciences. this comes down to this thing called a spike protein. what is that, and what is different about this variant?

>> the spike protein is the main protein that we design our vaccines around and directly attaches to human cells and enters our cells. this variant has over 30 mutations. 30 of some of the worst mutations we know from past variants that makes it more transmissible, more invasive not just against vaccines but against passive infection as well. if you look at the epidemiological signals it is spiking across south africa not just in one or 2 regions but in six or seven regions. it is transmitting quickly worldwide. it has arrived in hong kong and had immediately 2 breakthrough

cases which were likely caught in hotel quarantine, but it is worrisome, and the fact that it invaded the vaccines, these 2 people were double vaccinated. it lends credibility that this virus is very evasive and could boast really bad properties and could become worse than delta. host: what is it about a coronavirus for this coronavirus that when it is going to the process of mutating it mutates in the direction of travel that means it is stronger than what has gone before? >> what happens is that if it is not stronger than what is before , the king so far in the past six months is the delta variant it. if it is not as successful it will not succeed because the delta variant has become the dominant strain, but if something is faster, bigger

stronger -- bigger, stronger, that is what variant could succeed among those parts of the world where we have lots of vaccines and have developed natural immunity to the delta variant. that is not to this new variant. the big worry is this could be worse than delta, and that is what a lot of scientists are saying. they have not been this worried since the delta variant a. host: if it is worse than the delta variant could a pushback be as simple as after a fourth or fifth or sixth the vaccine? there are regions in the world where people have already had the 2 made vaccines, but it is called a booster vaccine, it is

not actually a booster, it is in wonderful vaccine. >> i think at the booster shot is more important than ever. after 2 doses of the pfizer people average 700 level antibodies. after the third shot you have over 2500. the booster is the most critical shot of the series. that is why many people need it, and israel has been able to hold back the wave recently because of the boosters, and at the u.k. success is also partly because of the booster, but the booster can only go so far. having the booster will protect you to some degree. the issue is will they be enough. i would warn those who think i am previously infected, i have natural immunity, that is not enough. that tubing wanes over six

months -- too wanes over six a month and the protection is only as good as a protection against the previous variant. that is what we have right now. that is why scientists around the world are concerned and that is why the u.k. is imposing restrictions. host: thank you very much. the deputy head of sudan's governing council told al jazeera last month's military takeover was the best option to's. what was -- to stop what it was a spiraling crisis. they say they discussed it with all parties, including the then prime minister. he has since been reinstated by the generals and into power-sharing deal. >> what happened on october 25 was the ultimate outcome of a

long process since the changes started incident -- in sudan. many issues were proposed by parties. the prime minister proposed 2 initiatives and during our meetings with the cabinet of ministers we made maximum efforts, but we could not reach a breakthrough. at that point we were left with three options, the best of which was the move we had taken. it was agreeable to the prime minister himself. we did not make such a move on our own. >> the prime minister was in agreement with us as to the decision we had adopted. for him, the move should be endorsed by the freedom and change coalition. we were left with three

scenarios. one was next to impossible. the second was the move we had taken in the third was the collapse of our country. we adopted the best option available as we made the right decision from our perspective, and at the same time prevented collapse. host: david is a former u.s. ambassador to ethiopia and burkina faso. he says people in sudan are still facing uncertainty and struggling to trust their leaders. >> it was the best option for the military and generals. it may have been the only realistic option. it remains to be seen whether this is going to be the best option for the people and civilian elements of society. it could be a useful first step but that is nothing more than

that. it is this: from your -- this go from here? are the generals serious about giving up power over time, and if so one cannot rule out the possibility that in my work. if they're not willing to give up our it will not work -- up power it will not work. the coup d'etat has taken place so what we have now is picking up the pieces and the generals are trying to make the best of a difficult situation for themselves. the real issue is are they willing to give up not only political power but a certain amount of economic power? they have significant interest in the mining sector in sudan, for example, that goes right to the military. host: you can watch the full

interview with the general at 7:30 gmt on friday. thousands of sudanese have been back out on the streets renewing their demands for a full civilian government. the security forces cleared some of them with tear gas. the crowds chanted messages to art of the people killed in the military to come. the prime minister as ordered an investigation. >> we are still conducting peaceful protest, but it is not the security apparatus has turned into an oppressive apparatus at the hands of army generals who do what they want with it. they want to have a fire with bullets as well as tear gas interests -- and arrests. >> the oppression the security uses against people is plenty

and intent on making sure the streets' voices are not heard. i hear the sounds of bombs behind me but there are also the sounds of protesters who remain peaceful. host: more than 50 people have died after fire and smoke filled a russian mind in siberia -- mine in siberia. senior managers have been detained for suspected safety violations. were pictures emerging on thursday from the spanish island in the canaries where a volcano continues to spew out lava. the volcano roared back into life more than just moments ago. it has destroyed thousands of buildings. more than 7000 people were forced to leave their homes. it is the longest volcanic eruption on the island since 1712. the weather is next. >> they went to sea from a

beach like this. i'm reporting on the biggest ever tragedy for migrants and refugees crossing the english channel. host: egypt's avenue of the sphinxes, the world's largest open air museum reopens. ♪ >> look forward to brighter skies, the weather, sponsored by qatar airways. meteorologist: it remains very wet in the south of india and sri lanka, but the further north we go the dryer against -- drier it gets. the smog creating lots of hazy sunshine, the air quality slipping to very unhealthy toward hazardous and it will stay like this for the next few days not just in northern areas of india but for pakistan and

depaul. it is expected to change on saturday with a change in the wind. further south we are seeing rains and parts of the northeast or monsoon. we have amber alerts out here not just for heavy rain but for thunderstorms and lightning. up in the northeast corner it does remain fine and dry and settled. as it does work east asia. high-pressure in charge. for the korean peninsula lots of sunshine coming through. sunday as well for southern areas of japan. we have had significant snow, it is going to get wet across coastal areas, cooler for tokyo, temperature sitting at 15° celsius. ♪ >> the weather sponsored by qatar airways. and ending up my dream was toy

make hollywood films. >> one man's question to realize a lifelong mission. >> the story i chose was one of my own village. >> going behind the lens as he brings his personal story to life. al jazeera correspondent, my own private bollywood. ♪ host: welcome back, you're watching al jazeera. u.k. scientists discovering a new covid-19 variant identified in southern africa is the most concerning thing of seen yet. the u.k. health security agency

says it has mutations that could make it spread and infect people more easily. the deputy head of sudan's governing council has told al jazeera that last month's military takeover was the best option to stop was aspiring -- spiraling crisis. the general says they discussed it with all parties, including the prime minister. thousands of sudanese are back out on the streets honoring those killed in recent demonstrations. they are renewing their demand for a full civilian government. security forces cleared some of them with tear gas. al jazeera's correspondent met one family grieving the loss of their daughter. correspondent: the fight for democracy has come at a high cost for one family. the mother lost her youngest daughter on the 17th in protest against the military take a month before. she says her 24-year-old

daughter was a nurse, her life was suddenly taken from them last week. >> when i learned she died i could not say or feel anything. i started screaming in my heart was about to stop. she was like a mother to me even though i am her mother. what else can i stay -- say. correspondent: this video taken a bite fellow producers documents the final moments of her life. her friends. her body back home -- her friends carried her body back home. >> i am trying to deal with the loss of my beloved one. the door was locked and i saw her dead body being carried by her friends and i cried. correspondent: hundreds of

thousands in sudan have been protesting against the military since october 25. more than 40 people have been killed and some 200 others injured. sudan's police have been -- the military takeover has thrown sudan into political crisis. the prime minister has been reinstated to try and bring the conflict back to its path the transition after decades of military rule. many protesters have opposed the deal saying they want the military out of power. another protester injured in demonstrations told us security forces detained in 42 days, which he described as the toughest of his life -- for 2 days, which he described as the

toughest of his life. >> i was shocked and arrested. i have been beaten and hurt. every single soldier there hit me. my hands and legs were handcuffed. correspondent: the prime minister's place to set up [indiscernible] an investigation will not bring their daughter back, but she finds comfort in the reason her sister participated in protest. >> when she was about to die she told her friend i am dying for my country. correspondent: a cost many others have paid as the transition to democracy in sudan remains fragile. host: britain and france are calling for a coordinated response to stop people crossing

the english channel. european ministers have been invited to an emergency meeting after 27 migrants drowned out the northern french because while trying to reach the u.k.. from there here is our correspondent. correspondent: rescue boats are in patrol less than 24 hours after the tragedy, police are using beach buckets and what passes for normality, migrants and refugees being exported to buses being bound for some sort of shelter. >> our police are mobilized and night not only yesterday and the day before but they have been from the very start. they are on our external borders. never as france had as many police officers and soldiers in the fight against illegal aggression. >> this is about smashing [indiscernible] correspondent: all along this

part of the french coastline there are spots where in secrecy smugglers arrange the sudden boarding of small, inflatable boats. it has happened before it is still happening. these images were formed on the same day as the migrants died, people intent on getting to the u.k. no matter what the risk. it is hard to imagine the level of desperation for these people. they are doing so in thousands and numbers are growing. this year alone 25,000 have made the crossing, tripled the number of 2020. for many of the people arriving this is where they are given help. a charity tries their best to dissuade people against channel crossings. most of the time they fail. they do not just blame people smugglers, they blame governments on both sides of the channel. >> people will try again, so it

is time to change politics here. open around -- a route to let people settled here in france as well. correspondent: the british and french governments blame each other for the problem getting worse. once the rhetoric dies down there is some hope wednesday's debts could bring a new level of cooperation. what was intended to be a new beginning was a tragic end for the men, women and children who died in the english channel. how many more have to die before there is an increase of military moves to up the people instead of politically motivated actions on both sides of the english channel? host: french fishermen are planning to block access to channel ports in northern france to protest against

post-breakfast fishing arrangements. the head of the fisheries committee is putting pressure on u.k. both countries have been involved in a long-running dispute for the rights of vessels to fish in territorial waters since the u.k.'s withdrawal from the eu. reports of abuse under the former gambian president has recommended criminal charges. our correspondent reports from neighboring senegal. correspondent: mohammed says he wants justice for his father. this is the opposition leader being arrested in 2016 for challenging his 22-year-old. this was the last time he was seen arrive -- alive. security forces alleged to have torturing them to death before

dumping his body in an unmarked grave. -- victims faced defendants charged with carrying out abuses against them describing in gruesome detail acts of rape, torture, and sexual abuse carried out by security forces. >> we are not as hopeful as we were in 2016. the reasons for that is basically lack of political will. correspondent: they were committed to prosecute all of those who have committed crimes. a number of them are in his

government and held senior positions in security forces. >> democracy is not easy. that is why there is a lot of noise. you control everything, you regulate everybody. correspondent: he is running for reelection and has sought alliances. human rights lawyers fear the process to get him on trial for his clients. >> gavigan's have for far too long suffered under a repressive regime, a regime that failed its contract with citizens and in doing so oppressed the very people it's war to preserve and protect. correspondent: on december 4 gambian's will go to the polls. whoever wins left the difficult

task to increment -- implement the truth reconciliation and recommendation. host: one of russia's oldest and most respected human rights groups could be shut down. prosecutors are trying to persuade the supreme court that it is violating russia's foreign agent law. correspondent: the millions of russians murdered or imprisoned under joseph stalin are remembered here in the archive of the human rights group. it spent decades exposing stalin's crimes. state prosecutors want to close down the group. >> memorial is uncompromising. the past is tightly packed with the present and tightly bound to

human race today. all historical events should be visible standing side-by-side. only when somebody knows all of their country's history can they be a real citizen. correspondent: hundreds of people showed their support for memorial. the group is being prosecuted under pressure's foreign agents law being used against alexei navalny. authorities say the law protects russia from foreign interference. >> is a total disgrace they are trying to liquidate us on absurd charges. this is above all a crackdown on russian civil society. correspondent: the group says it has already paid more than $80,000 in fines. supporters hope the case will be thrown out as happened in 2015 with the supreme court rejected another case brought by the justice ministry. the political climate has

changed significantly since then with a widespread crackdown on dissent. host: football fans worldwide are paying tribute to a late start the year after his death. thousands of people gathered outside the stadium that bears his name. he is revered by supporters. players from his former team and their opponents formed is number 10 during a minute long applause. our correspondent has more from buenos aires. correspondent: many fence still see him as a hero, the man who brought the world cup in 1986. they see him as the greatest player the world is ever seen. people still see the dark side

of the men. off the pitch people are talking about some of his behavior especially toward women, some of the children he is said to a father. in general they are trying to marry those 2 sides of the men together. there were people here when he was playing -- there were people not even born when he was playing. in him he signifies what is possible even if you were born into poverty. he is a symbol of what can be achieved. they still revere him.