vaccines are the 1st line of defense. germany's government is preparing new restrictions for as early as next week, even for the fully vaccinated like to so last night. by to that we will have further restrictions on private contacts. so we're well prepared for the spread of the new virus mutation all over europe was them. oh, it's a huge while a novel house fighter. what the new curbs will look like is unclear. the government is discussing possible measures with the leaders of germany states, if case numbers saw they could be tough. is glover when this misstated father, if experts predictions are confirmed and what we're seeing in neighboring countries continues be allied, and we can't rule out a general lockdown, including everything from businesses to education, to private gatherings after yet, mismatch reason. for starters, that are likely mean large new year's eve parties will be canceled. and those making fitness resolutions for 2022 might need to postpone hitting the gym until the only con wave is over. let sick you now to our correspondence,

simon young in berlin. simon, our we started off the broadcast with a very urgent recommendation of by a germany's institute for infectious diseases telling people caught all social ties, don't travel if you don't have to. so um, do you think the government will heed their advice? well, it's definitely not there inclination all through. they've been saying they want to try and if you like have lighter touches they can while reacting to the very worrying situation as our micron begins to take hold in germany. and to give an example, the, a justice minister mark of bushman has been saying to day that the government should do everything it possibly can to avoid a lockdown. i think there inclination for christmas in particular was to say, well, you know, probably people don't have so many contacts outside the home during the christmas days. and just with their hoping that appeals to people to just avoid that and

reduce their context as much as possible. would work, but this robert cock institute, the infectious disease institute has as you say. so issued this call saying really the only way to combat omicron will be a wide spread and serious locked down. so that means you know, closing restaurants immediately, they're saying extending the school holidays after christmas and other pretty drastic measures. so difficult decisions had difficult decisions that had, can you glean from, you know, what you've heard, where you are in terms of which direction the government is leaning? well, what we've seen is a, is a discussion paper that's going to be looked at this afternoon in this meeting of the state leaders and the central government. and which is essentially saying that from the 28th of december. so after christmas through the new year and well into january, they'll be significant extra contact restrictions,

or groups of no more than 10 fully vaccinated people allowed to come together. people are vaccinated, they'll be, it'll be just a team. people from the same household and all sorts of other recommendations there, but only coming in after christmas. and as we said, some people say that's just not going to be enough. i have my final question a to you assignment. i mean this is it at baptism by fire for this new government sworn in just 2 weeks ago? no honeymoon period for them. um, is this going to be the stress test for chance? their shots and the new health minister was definitely their 1st a stress test. and they're having to organize extra high level meetings to discuss what to do about so on the kron and take this very difficult decision. it's a judgment call them he called out about the new health minister. he looks like the right man at the right time is a professor of epidemiology. he understands the details, but this is also a political question,

how to keep social and business life going while also protecting the health care system. tough days ahead for the government for sure we have to is had for the government her simon young are political correspondent of reporting. thank you. all right, let's bring in rough ab wyler. he is director of the european bioinformatics institute and advisor to both the current and the previous government in germany, sir, a very warm welcome. what do you make of these suggestions that have been made by the robert carr institute? are they enough to act as a circuit breaker? well, it's a suggestion of overcoming critique would be really implemented. i think that that would give us a good start to buy time for getting objects into people. do we have in your expert opinion, do we need more layers of protection?

what is your current advice to this new government? but i think what's really important that was paid try to do is to get as many people vaccinated 1st time, 2nd time, still necessary for many unfortunately. and also been reading the boost for, for the already pretty vaccinated, because we know that that's the great thing that the vaccines, which i knew ah hi defective to protect with a booster campaign against on the coin. and that's, that's really a relief. but we need to buy time and get as many vaccinated and boosted as possible. how easily is it for people to get boosted in germany, set the scene for us when i, when i, i think it's, it's good. it started, unfortunately, not as early as it should have started,

but now i think the campaign is going pretty quickly. and i haven't heard any complaints that it's difficult to get access to, to explanations. now i'm a con, as you know it's clipping many places around the world. it is now the dominant strain in, in the us, in the us and in denmark. what is the situation in germany? what he in germany? it's really the lucky situation, but it's legging behind, but that doesn't mean the lot because with her current speed it would be still by end of this year, beginning of next year, the situation that splits the only one is or to hear the dominating effect. and you should also not forget, we are not, it's not that one strain is replaced by the other, the other data would still go on. it only will be overshadowed by the sheer amount

of on the current infections. now people as you know, everywhere around the world, but here also specifically our coven weary. how difficult is it for health officials, policy makers, and people like yourself who are advising the government to rally the population? get everyone to comply with the measures? is there enough public trust in the new government? i think so. yes, because the current government has a health minister which was always very frank and out over many, many years. and i think a lot of people trust him and, and put faith in him. now in my final question to you, sir, the u. k, as you know, is, is an army crime, a hot spot cases are skyrocketing, they're one of the most vaccine countries in europe. what does that tell you?

well, it shows us that it's so important to get people fully vaccinated and get booster because on the car will in fact also be vaccinated and sometimes even goes to people. but many of them who's also the ones who are infected will show no symptoms of very mild symptoms. and it's very rare that people get seriously ill or died when they are fully vaccinated and boosted. that's a completely different situation for the ones who are i'm vaccinated and so i can only get whatever jeff, you need the 1st, the 2nd preferred. just go and get it. it's dangerous out there. raw ha applies director of the european buyer informatics institute, an adviser to both the current and the previous government in germany. so thank you so much for taking our questions. pleasure,

thanks for having. good bye. meanwhile, in the united states, army crown has now become the dominant, very end, did accounts for some 73 percent of all infections just a week ago, the number was 12 percent. the white house is planning to distribute millions. a free rapid test in new york virus. cases are surging, just as the holiday season gets under way. 5. 03. 0 one. ha peter. this is just a test. new year's eve in time square has not come early, but the on the cross wave has hit the us sooner than many experts expected. nearby and new yorkers lie enough to get tested with christmas just days away and cases surging. many are worried. it definitely feels like that 1st wave of the pandemic without anxiety, all these long lines around the city, people getting tested on exams are getting cancelled for people in grad school like

myself. so i kind of feel like that early parent who didn't, we didn't really know was happening. i think we've all been affected as a new yorker, we're trying to take every single precaution that we can. um got dull vax boosted regular testing. i am planning to charge for the holidays, but depending on the result of this test, i'll probably stay put in your back. america's talk. pandemic advisor anthony found she though, had a hopeful message for those. worried about the holidays in you can go the extra mile and get tested before you have a family gathering or a group get test the day before or the day of getting together, but vaccinated and boosted people. one of the family members of accident, it should feel very comfortable in getting together and enjoying a holiday meal or a holiday. get together president joe biden plans to address the rapid rise in corona virus case as later on tuesday. but he's already made it clear with some of

the blame lies for those who choose to remain and vaccinated. he'll issue a stark warning and make clear and vaccinate individuals will continue to drive hospitalizations and deaths. that is not trying to scare people or maybe it is trying to make clear to people in the country what the risks are here of not being vaccinated. despite the worsening situation in times square, some people were still in a festive mood. but this might be the last time new york as see these lights in person. the mass still hasn't decided if new year's celebrations here. we'll go ahead. on a sorry now about the other developments in the pandemic. the use cove at 19 pass for travel is set to expire 91 aster vaccination, unless the holder has a booster shot. the new rule is due to come into force in february, and the use drug regulator says it's still unclear of existing of axes, need to be tweaked to better fight on a cron. but during a says, a could begin work on

a new booster shots within weeks. and thailand is reinstating a mandatory hotel warranty for foreign visitors. and made growing concerns over the, on the kron variant spring up to speed with the other stories in the headlines right now. japan has executed 3 death row inmates. it's 1st use of the death penalty in 2 years. the prisoners had all been convicted of multiple murders and they were put to death by hanging. there's widespread public support for capital punishment, inter pound us by growing criticism from human rights groups and ethiopia to gray people's liberation front has announced it will withdraw from several regions. it captured in recent months, say on the move is a step towards piece of the ethiopian government dismissed the announcement saying it's a cover up for recent military setbacks. tens of thousands have been killed in fighting over the past year. the philippines is still reeling from the aftermath of last

week's powerful typhoon. local officials are pleading for 8. japan and china announced they would send power generators, water, and food. i phone right killed at least 375 people and displaced hundreds of thousands who stay in asia where malaysia is recovering from devastating floods that swept the country last weekend. at least 14 people died and tens of thousands were displaced after some of the heaviest rainfall in years. malaysia's prime minister admitted that the official response has been too slow. yeah, carefully lifted from her flooded home in blankets. rule love rescue as take of bed ridden elderly lady to safety by boat in malaysia's richest state slang, or one of the 8 states hit by floods, soldiers, and now helping with the relief operations. roads here are still under water. so

stranded residents receive supplies. however, they can oh, but across the country, tens of thousands of bare compatriots are living and evacuation centers are. these are the worst floods in years and over the weekend. a months worth of rain fell in just a few days. and while the flood water slowly recedes, anger is surging. this petrol stations owner checks the fuel is still usable and isn't happy with the relief efforts. i'm disappointed with a politician with m. m. well, while emma and the members always out 5th, are gone. they don't come during the time of disaster. they're down the gun. the dish on board is abdulla disasters about their u. s. b, you will not being warned by the government that the, the where though will be that serious and end of what we're all that serious as

well. reactor the law every day i'll have a house is like, not be everything gone. malaysia's prime minister is my al sabri yackel, but admitted that the government's coordination of the disaster response was inadequate. he has promised improvements, but parts of the country are still under water and weather forecasters a warning of more rain and floods in the coming days. all santa's team of reindeer might be some of our favorite christmas characters, but life for their real life counterparts is less than magical reindeer herders are struggling with a problem of climate change which threatens their livelihood and their life stock. so when an or lila enters the corral, her reindeer are getting excited. that's because only labrenz food, hey, or tweaks of ivy. they don't like it as much as lighten. but they it

felt simple survive the reindeer need. the extra help for years winter has brought more rain. when rain falls on snow, it freezes, locking in like in and other plants, the animals are unable to smell the food or dig for it. and warm a winter's aren't the only problem. oh so summers are getting ah, warmer and reindeer is not very good handling heat and it can not sweat so ah, it very easily overheat and leaf might get hot. summer might kill a lot of rain. had a climate summit in glasgow this past november, walt leaders agreed to fight climate change and keep global warming under one and a half degrees. but that doesn't reflect the situation north of the arctic circle. the knows the social is the temperatures, those going faster is not like the $1.00 is a,

it would be that threshold, there shouldn't be a crossed. but i mean here we're going to go beyond that. i mean, there are some projections that they even talk about 3 degrees. there would mean incredibly tough conditions for reindeer, who are still an important part of the economy in finland. they are kept for their meat and milk, but their fur hides and even the ant or sand holes are also used usually for clothes and tools, but hurting the animals in warmer conditions as expensive. you'll guarantee the economic profitability behind there so much because you have to put a lot of money in there compared to normal situation that the radio it leaves out there in the way of finding its own whitening its own fault. and you have to keep it. you know, people usually call they are where they have the economic profitability, they'll get they living. but for some her nurse there's also

optimism. i'm hopeful bit reindeer hurting because we have lasted so far. and i think we have a good future future in heard of us, but are there use needs to be more active? politically we turn our attention to paula. now their country has a near a total ban on abortions, or now the government wants to go even further by creating a national register. of all pregnancies, w's amazon or phenomena reports on an issue that often pits individual women against hospitals and the police. claudia could still 26 years old entrepreneur earlier this year she decided to and an unwanted pregnancy using abortion pills. she ordered on the internet for one of the fella. i went to a hospital just to confirm that i am not pregnant anymore. no,

i was about once there i was brutally examined, though, on the doctor didn't providing any medical information. instead, she scared me saying the state prosecutor needed to know that she would report me to the authorities as her mother's washy, jonathan washing, despite pool and sneer. total ban on abortion, women who terminate pregnancies cannot be prosecuted under polish law. that however, didn't prevent the police from interrogating her. claudia coast oak tells me, oh sam. okay, says look what we asked and they wanted to know how the pills were delivered out what the package looked like. so um i had to give them the names of all my friends who knew i had an abortion not no idea what that was for help. also. last year, a court ruled that abortion in poland is only permitted in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother's life is threatened, thousands took to the streets in protest with the intact until $911.00 dogs come with one of them is the reproductive rights activists says that the results of the

new law amounts to torture is found on abortion, means that polish women are forced to carry pregnancy. with fetuses that have no rain that have no call if they are in distance outside of their body, wave lethal har hart failures. it's just impossible to describe how it feels like to be a woman in holland today. as of january, the government also plans to introduce a centralized register were pregnancies and miscarriages are reported. pro choice activists fear this database could be used to cause legal problems for women who use abortion pills or find other ways to an to pregnancy p o t shit or chef ski is the gynecologist in which he says the concerns about the register are justified. as the data is available anyway, but he also says he is fed up with the issue being politicized in poland. if shirley bush with her, we, as doctors would like to be left alone by politicians,

we want them to start using us for their purposes or both sides of doing it. piazza or shed ski fears they're restrictive abortion rules in poland. will have floss think consequences. first could be the boys who they shows that there are women with who now are afraid to get pregnant. so she is a joe day think, what am i going to do when i find out my thetis has an illness or gene damage? you ask with them, well that's why they decide not to get pregnant at all as that as villa corbett, mothers against natal examinations because they fear the results above a wrinkle. but the debate in poland continues with pro life activists demanding father restrictions and criminal charges against people selling abortion pills. the activists who sell the pills or any money on that. and this is what we want to stop . we want to stop this business of ah, business of deaf. you could say claudia could still cannot come to terms with

what's going on in poland. she's hoping for a political change soon. otherwise, she says she is going to leave the country that report by ours on at von carmen. want to tell you about the some more stories that are in the headlines there right now. a south african court has granted former president, jacob's whom i leave to appeal against a ruling that he must return to prison a while he was released from jail early on medical parole to undergo surgery. mister zoom is serving a 15 month sentence for contempt of court after he refused to testify any corruption enquiring to ruin the turkish lira has made significant gangs after present russia. i have erred on launched a series of policies to prop up the ailing currency. the government has promised to compensate lira denominated bank account holders for drops in the value of the currency, which has seen from attica drastic losses rather in recent weeks. and here in

europe, weather forecasters are offering much hope of a white christmas, but temperatures are still cold enough to live in the senses of those brave enough to go for a winter swim and switzerland thousands to parts in a pre christmas dep tickler ah, baby, it's cold outside, but for some geneva, that means it's time for a swim. the brave bared their skin in record numbers at this year's christmas cup. after last year's event was cancelled due to the pandemic. over 3000 signed up for a chance at glory and frozen toes to certain moral, pre gone, manifest. this is certainly the biggest winter swimming event in the world. that phenomenon of getting together and releasing your joy. the cold water takes us away from all our problems to the polymer. oh, good challenge begins with a splash from a bucket. while it may look sadistic helps the swimmers bodies prepare for the coming shock. once they've taken the plunge,

the contestants have to swim 100 meters, while some are playing to win for others, the reward is a feeling of relief when it's all over. so what did you have horrible for the 1st 10 seconds, but afterwards you feel really good. why are you doing this for her? because we're having fun or soil for the smile afterwards. exactly, with a smile afterwards. oh maybe that explains the record attendance permission once again to do something out of the ordinary. calling out register for bomb magazine kick off with the review of match day 17. for now. thanks for a company. ah ah, with

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