this is t w news live from the e.u. agrees on an ambitious new goal in the fight against climate change after all night talks the bloc decides to cut greenhouse emissions by at least 55 percent that target by the end of this decade also coming up. germany's pieces of code 19 soared to another record high the country's disease control agency today reports new daily infections of nearly 30000 it's warning germans to reduce their social contacts dramatically or face tougher restrictions. plus gunned down in

afghanistan a popular t.v. journalist dies in an attack in jalalabad she showed women they deserve to be part of the national conversation. welcome to the program european union leaders have reached a hard fought deal to make dramatic cuts to the blocs greenhouse gas emissions falling all night talks the member states agreed to reduce emissions 55 percent by the end of the decade the tougher carbon goal was hailed by e.u. council president showing the shell who tweeted that it would make europe the leader in the fight against climate change. the new target aims to put the e.u. on track to reach net 0 emissions by 2050 and sets expectations high for a u.n.

climate meeting this weekend for more on this joined now by al brussels a bureau chief alexander the nominee greetings alexander what more can you tell us about this greenhouse emissions deal. well the agreement reached this morning it's very significant because it will make it possible for the european union as you have just mentioned to be carbon neutral a by 2050 and it also adds marriott's to europe's claim that it is leading the world in the global fight against climate change however it is also very telling that it took a whole night for the leaders to agree on this topic some of them especially those representing countries in the eastern part off you were up. were saying that this goal of reducing emissions by 55 percent by 2030 is too ambitious

that their industries are still coal dependent that they would need to invest extra money to achieve this goal so it is a huge success especially for the german e.u. council presidency that those countries are now on board as well however we also have to add that not everyone one who will be happy the european parliament certainly not the members of the european parliament would like the leaders to go further and to take more ambitious climate action as always thanks much alexander von naaman. and another breakthrough to come out of that brussels summit an agreement on the e.u. is $1.00 trillion euros it includes hundreds of billions in coronavirus relief

funds member states poland and hungary initially blocked approval of the budget because it would have allowed for sanctions against member countries who breach e.u. law but a tough compromise brokered by germany ended the deadlock. french president in manila covered 900 safe kisses as a greeting german chancellor merkel waved the atmosphere's seems jovial gathered in brussels but behind closed doors it was a different story. i never seen that and difficult long reach is behind us and i've never remember i don't remember any negotiation as difficult tense and strong as it was today. but my tears is material from what i've yet to keep the polish prime minister and.

had threatened to veto the entire e.u. badgett over plans to link fence to respecting the rule of law other leaders criticized them for jeopardizing the european union because a lot was at stake to be precise 1.8 trillion euros roughly one trillion for the next 7 year budget and a 750000000000 gear of yes q fund to help breathe life into the virus hit economy. but just in time for dinner a compromise table by german chancellor angela merkel seemed to do the trick the deal is not without controversy the changes could see real floor proceedings to light by year's end until after the next election but it seems this was a concession that had to be made to underdog desperately needed funds before christmas and here in germany the latest coronavirus numbers show a dramatic spike in new cases over the past day the country has hit

a new high nearly 30000 cases and 598 people have died the highers daily yet weeks of partial lockdown haven't slowed the spread of infection enough much tougher restrictions the most inevitable now with political momentum building for a harder law down over the holidays. with only 2 weeks to go until christmas the looming question across germany is will a hard lock down come before or after the holidays. at its weekly briefing on wednesday germany's robert cock institute said it was alarmed and that it was bracing for a significant increase in case numbers. but if it's all going to situation could easily typically end before us are needing to profit from exponential growth put into our garden. the situation is especially problematic in assisted living facilities according to german authorities residents of nursing homes are at more risk than ever. currently we're seeing double the amount of outbreaks in assisted

living facilities than in spring and every outbreak affects a lot of people and are tough and several german states are now considering tightening the measures already in place berlin's government is considering closing all non-essential retail before christmas the busiest period of the year winter break may be extended and schools could return to distance learning. i believe these 2 and a half 3 weeks will give us plenty of opportunities regarding disease control. state leaders are now hoping to set out a coworker needed plan in a meeting with chancellor angela merkel. if you get a moment off and also a few minutes look at the ring looks likely to take place on sunday. we are very interested in getting together as quickly as possible in order to rapidly gain clarity about the path our country will follow you through your open door at one point or cute in light of recent developments religious services over the holidays

are also being scrutinized. i mean i would if there is a possibility of a religious gathering endangering lives i'll be the 1st to call things off. the so-called most wonderful time of the here now marked by deep concerns a new lockdown in germany isn't a matter of if but rather when. reporter julie sell delhi joins me now julie give us some perspective on these numbers they look dire. they are definitely concerning especially if we consider that measures are already in priests to try to bring them down but don't seem to be working. we see a widespread situation with the virus widespread across the country with increased outbreaks in household and senior care homes in fact we see a rise of incidence of the virus among older age groups and these are the people

who are most at risk from coban 19 therefore we've seen an increase in patients in intensive care and of deaths now even if we compare the german situation to other countries for example the us which has been criticized and its handling of the pandemic we see that the incidence in the us is over 63 cases 410-0000 inhabitants over 7 days in germany that number is at 149 and even germany's economy minister up into my own today said that we are looking at an exponential growth of cases coming back and the politicians in germany must act now there are no doubt frustrated germans waking up to this news and asking what was the point of the partial lockdown at the beginning of november what role. yes the partial lockdown was meant to bring cases down before christmas so that some loosening of the restrictions

could happen over christmas and people could enjoy the holidays that hasn't happened just yesterday the head of germany's disease control agency said that over the spring contacts have had been reduced to 60 under 60 percent and now we see a reduction of only 40 percent and that is not enough if you look at other european countries like ireland they imposed tough lockdown for a limited period of time and that was able to bring the numbers down in germany there was no political consensus to go ahead with a tougher lockdown and therefore we saw only partial measures introduced and that has has not brought the cases down so i imagine. not at all distant horizon yes harsher lockdown looks inevitable at this point german chancellor angela merkel and the state premiers are expected to me in the coming days sunday looks like a likely date to try to decide on nation white measures we're looking at school

break being extended by a week to january 10th we're looking at a closure of not all non-essential shops the big question is now when this will be introduced whether before christmas like the government would live a federal government would like to see or maybe after christmas as some state premiers are pushing for. thank you so much for that. so let's take a look at some of the other stories making news around the world according to hong kong media democracy activists jimmy why has been charged under the controversial law he's accused of colluding with foreign forces and in danger in national security lies the most high profile person yet to be charged under the new law police say he will face the charges in forth on saturday. has announced a long awaited monetary reform due to take effect on january 1st the country will eliminate its dual currency system in

a bid to attract foreign investment the move will likely spark inflation but the government has promised significant wage increases to cushion the impact. time magazine has named us president elect joe biden and vice president elect kamla harris person of the year for 2020 they were picked to a head of health care workers battling the 1000 pandemic the racial justice movement and president donald trump since 1927 time has been honoring the person or people who most impacted the news during the calendar year. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has welcomed morocco's decision to normalize relations in a deal brokered by the us donald trump broke the news on twitter calling it a historic breakthrough under the deal the u.s. will recognize morocco's claim over the disputed western sahara. is the 4th arab nation to recognize israel in recent months well she

was simply a woman on her way to work a high profile job that was apparently too much for extremists in her country to stomach afghan television news anchor. was shot dead on thursday along with her driver in the eastern city of jalalabad but those who took her life could not have raised the depth of respect she had earned from the nation. oh laura who are prayers for a heroine hundreds came out to pay their respects to journalist. driver assassinated on their way to work. for many young women in afghanistan my one was larger than life a t.v. anchor in a country where 2 thirds of girls are barred from attending school. my one was also an advocate for women's rights and continued to speak out even after her own mother was killed for doing the same. but then early thursday

morning in this street she and her driver were ambushed by gunmen the attack was claimed by the militant group islamic state. was a brave female journalist and anchor she was working for any local t.v. . but unfortunately today she was martyred by the enemies. not only her family but all the women of the province for. the. islamic state has claimed responsibility for a string of recent attacks on civilians in afghanistan. as the u.s. draws down troops there and conservative militant groups resurge many worry that a life like my ones will once again become impossible. next up is our

documentary from ghetto to parliament the incredible story of. don't forget you can get all the latest news and information around the clock and. for me and the entire news team here thanks. by calling me old and i'm game you know it was that 73000000 land on the moon walk killed worldwide sure but it's not just the animals of all suffering it's the environment if you want in the cold when you lift up the priest i'm a hunch was strange to us as we think is listening to our podcast on between friends.