Locals in Maldives battle to preserve coral reefs

After the 2011 Fukushima disaster — a powerful earthquake and tsunami which killed nearly 18,000 people — the Japanese government took a radical step.

In this week’s show, we look at Pakistan which has one of the fastest growing infection rates for Covid-19 in the world. The crisis is exposing shortcomings in the government's response and the health care system. Next, we head to Indonesia where locals have come to the aid of Rohingya refugees stranded at sea. Locals were angry that authorities had initially refused to let the asylum-seekers onto dry land over coronavirus fears. Finally, we go to Wuhan in China, where the virus first emerged. We see how marriages and divorces are surging after life in lockdown.

A new species of algae is destroying large patches of once-vibrant reef in one of the most remote ocean sanctuaries on earth. Experts have warned that the phenomena could become an ecological and economic 'disaster.'

In the aftermath of the tense presidential election, residents of Cocody, a commune of Abidjan, described polling stations as "broken" and witnessed "clashes". The outcome of the violence, which was numerous in the southern half of the country, is not immediately known, but both the opposition and the government have spoken of "deaths". The opposition had called on the population to boycott the election and to protest against the candidacy of Alassane Ouattara, who is seeking a third term.

In Niamey, the capital of Niger, inhabitants say they want their leaders to "show honesty" and to "build a health and education system" after the country voted in a historic presidential election that could seal a first peaceful handover between elected presidents.

The Russian capital is decorated for the holidays despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

"When the vaccine comes, I’m ready. I’m ready to take a shot," says one man in India's capital, New Delhi after two Covid-19 vaccines were approved for use, kicking off one of the world's biggest inoculation drives. India, which has the second highest number of registered cases worldwide, authorised the use of shots developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University as well as by local pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech.

It's a chance to catch some winter sun in a stunning tropical location and temporarily forget the coronavirus pandemic. After months of closure, the Maldives has reopened to visitors again, or at least those with a negative Covid-19 test and quite a bit of cash to spare. Wealthy visitors are flocking to the South Asian islands for a luxury getaway and the opportunity to take off their face masks at last. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Emerald Maxwell.

Rivers remain high in a suburb in the Australian city of Sydney as rain falls, pushing up floodwaters that have inundated homes and roads over the past days. Emergency services are seen in boats as locals seek to protect their homes.

With bars and restaurants open and its 11:00 pm curfew, Madrid has become a highly-prized haven for hoards of leisure-starved Europeans in a reality that has rankled residents who remain restricted from leaving the region.

As one of the most popular places in Europe for holidaymakers, Spain is doing everything it can to save its tourism sector. Flights are back up and running, and foreign tourists are allowed in with negative PCR tests. Germans and French are topping the visitor lists to the Balearic Islands to enjoy the beaches, bars and restaurants. Paradoxically, Spaniards are banned from travelling between regions. The Spanish tourist sector is complaining about such contradictions, and many Spaniards are fed up with what they feel are inconsistent Covid-19 restrictions. Our correspondents report.

The volcano has been increasingly active of late, with at least 15 smaller eruptions recorded in the past week. Locals have been advised to stay several kilometers away from the crater.