so much chris harrington from d. w sports. thank you. you're watching d w. there's just reminder the top story we're following for you today. hong kong independent news outlet stand, news says it's closing after his offices were rated and pass at rows of police, arrested 7 people and confiscated evidence is latest blow to press. freedom in phone calls watching p. w. news. business is next. with rob watch. i'm terry martin. thanks for watching with for is day it is paula news. first go to quit of him now. i'm sure that it was on indiana. so soon a dream of. so she plague window, the interposed. what say the,

within a few books on you to green, do you feel worried about the planning me to on the old hosting of the, on the green fence post and to me it's clear we need to change. join me for a deep dive into the green transformation for me, for you, for the plans with me. ah, the big switch off begins germany is set to shut down 3 of its nuclear power plants by the end of this year. is it ames for a total phase out by the end of 20? $22.00. will look at what it means. the europe germans are looking elsewhere for

that new year. pyrotechnic this is authority, is again banned the sale of fireworks. some are even crossing borders together with the state of your business on robots in berlin. welcome to the program. germany is saying a good bye to nuclear power reactors representing almost half the country's nuclear capacity. ought you to be shut down? by the end of this year, the remainder we switched off during the course of 2022. it could be seen as the worst possible time to do it with york. battling an energy crisis, but the big switch off is being met with glee from anti atomic activists. ah, these protestors are making their voices heard and have been doing so for decades outside a nuclear power plant in northern germany for over 35 years now. activists have been meeting up once a month to call for the reactor to be shut down. today is the 425th meeting and the

final time that they'll be here breathing the elements. that's because the brock to off nuclear power plant, one of the most controversial in germany, will be decommissioned at the end of the year for a pastor and protest co founder hans cont vanna. it's a day of mixed feelings as you have, if she does mean the sense of relieve that the nuclear power plant is, find the history of what we never imagined back then that we'd have to hold out for . so long's, that's about the 2011 fukushima nuclear disaster prompted germany to declare a nuclear phase out by the end of 2022. but many countries continue to rely on nuclear power. this promotional phil made by the french nuclear industry depicts it as clean and above all climate friendly. a line of argument also favored by the countries president, yet dondo the subject to achieve our objectives, in particular carbon neutrality by 2050 that we will for the 1st time in decades

relaunched the construction of nuclear reactors in our country and on the copy. that's why greenhouse gas emissions are lower than those from fossil fuels. but compared to wind or solar power, nuclear energy production is far more expensive. it's really clear those countries around the world that a most intensely committed to civil nuclear power. ah, either countries with nuclear weapons or countries really de monster bay kane, on nuclear weapons. the reactor will be shut down, but the radioactive waste will remain in storage there for decades to come. there's still no permanent disposal site anywhere in the world, which is why the activists plan to continue their fight. not to understand what the nuclear phase out means for germany. let's just take a look at the country's energy mix. so in 2020 it was renewable energy sources like wind, solar, biomass, and hydro,

that hurt increased to provide 43.8 percent of germany's energy. coal is the 2nd most important source with ignite and hard coast applying almost a quarter of the electricity. here the german government is actually, i mean, to close all of its coal plants by 2038 as it reduces carbon emissions. gas fired power stations provided 16 point, one percent of germany's electricity in 2020. and then comes nuclear power plants which generated 11.3 percent. but that is obviously about change with all germany is react is due to be switched off by the end of 2022. so the world is watching germany's energy transition as it aims to switch off sources currently providing almost 40 percent of its electricity. that's nuclear and co critic say that doing it too soon could lead to blackouts, especially when it's dark and there's no wind blowing. they suggest keeping nuclear

power plants running as a stable source of energy. will i be speaking to michael schneider, who is lead author of the world nuclear industry status report and an opponent of nuclear power? i asked him if, given europe's current energy shortage. this was the worst possible time to be switching off nuclear energy sources. well, you know, i mean the, the german nuclear pays out has been in the making for a long time. it's decades that the german society has been discussing the issue by the way that the term like in a given that which now has been integrated into the, the english language like energy transition dates from 980. and you know, as soon as 1986, when the channel bo disaster started happen to took place, there were in germany had actually published in germany,

there were 20 nuclear phase out scenarios published. so there's a long exercise of thinking and designing this, this nuclear phase out. so what is happening now is, is just the consequence of these latest decisions that are now 10 years old. so there was a long period of preparation for that. and let's face it, it's, it's been a phenomenal investment security. you can, you know, imagine you can invest into other electricity generating technologies, knowing that 4000 megawatts will switch off by the end of the year. that's a phenomenal investment security that doesn't exist the same way in other countries . that's something we need to have bad mind or me talk about when, when, when, when we talk about the switch off of the nuclear power is the environmental impact . and the fact that germany's renewable sources aren't quite ready to make up for

what's going to be lacking from the the nuclear switch off. is this actually a bad move for the environment given the nuclear, given that germany will be using coal to make up that loss? no that's, that's the miss. and that's what the problem, you know, the, the, the reduction in nuclear out bit output over the past 10 years has been compensated for twice over by the increase in renewable energy sources. so it's, it's a myth that actually, that has less lead to more coal. no, it's actually, well in the coming years highway is exempt to this. it will mean there is more coal and late night being burnt to make up for the loss of nuclear power over the next 2 years because wind and sun are not ready to fill that gap. one, no, it's actually not true. i mean, there is a very clear pathway now in order to double up the speed of implementation

of renewable energy sources. and in fact, the new coalition has a target for 2032 to phase out a coal. it differently from what was said earlier. so to bring it further closer to a now a, originally it was 2038 and have 520-3080 percent of renewables in the electricity mix. so in fact, what we have in europe is that especially france is, is worried about the nuclear phase out because germany and belgium, the 2 nuclear phase, or countries have actually saved the, the french grid in the last week when the terminal dropped below, it was below 0 so which we actually have a quite unique situation where nuclear friends is depending on the

nuclear phase, our countries in order to stabilize its grid. we do have this unusual situation that we in europe where we have germany in one hand phasing out and france if anything wanting that to be more nuclear power plants across europe. why do we have that enormous difference? well, you see in france there has been always the, the a mis of lag on us young. you know, that, that france can only be as powerful and as radiating in the world with nuclear weapons and with nuclear power. and, and frankly, france has always used the nuclear technology where they, on the military side, on the civil side as geopolitical tool. so don't forget, there is now a presidential election coming up for francis taking over the presidency in the european union at 1st of january. so there's alliance buildings. so again,

once again, a france uses a nuclear power is a geopolitical tool. so, but on the other hand, don't forget that the new nuclear power plants that the president has been talking about. we're talking of a grid connection between 2040 in 2050. so which is sort of a bit late for the environment. and it's a bit late for you're not changing the, the situation. firms are, are generating sources or thank you very much for your time, michael snyder. i do appreciate you giving us so much of it. that's michael schneider from the world nuclear industry status report on databases as take a look at some of the other global business stories making use more details. it emerged av chinese. right hailing giant dds plans to d list from new york and re list on the hong kong stock exchange. reuters is quoting 2 sources, same company plans to use a mechanism that allow it to list without raising capital or issuing new stock

listing by introduction, as it known would allow holders of its u. s. chairs to gradually transfer them. now usually fireworks make new year's eve in germany, a noisy and colorful a fab. this year for the 2nd year in a row german authorities battling the only con corona virus. parents have decided to ban the sale of them. however, some determined germans are getting around the restrictions by crossing international borders. ah, he is. even berlin typically goes off with the bank. but the 201920 took over was different in a suburban street in the midst of crowds of revelers. and huge explosion from a home made bomb, hundreds of thousands of euros of damage. scores of people injured for berlin's authorities. it was the cracker that broke the camel's back. then,

with the onset of the pandemic, authorities feared the usual stream of wounded would overwhelm hospitals, already groaning under the load of covered cases. and national ban was put in place . but germans just want to have fun. we are putting down as event despite everything we want to celebrate the new year last year. it couldn't happen. therefore we're happy that it's possible this year. in germany, we are not allowed to buy fire crackers, but we are allowed to set them off. up then the so many germans are making a pilgrimage across the border into denmark to buy their fireworks. ha humble. they come from hamburg, hanover blame and russ stock to sold off. purveyors of pyrotechnics had been worried about their economic plight as denmark prepares for a more subdued and new year's celebration than usual. but now, business is booming. your highly valued german customers have helped safe does it.

so that's been nice. hemmings in estimates that this year german customers account for 65 percent of the shops turn over. so it looks like, even though the brandenburg gate party is strictly no spectators, nightclubs will be closed and all indoor venues will be off limits to the on vexed . germans will still be able to make some noise to welcome in the new muscle remain visit same here in berlin from o. from as do had to our website d dot com slash business. you can also find is only doing use youtube channel and facebook with they're important to the economy is huge. but getting hold of them is often a dirty business. critical commodities make us mo bile make our

smartphones smile. how can today's global hunger for lithium, cobalt and more be satisfied made in germany in 60 minutes on d. w. what secrets lie behind these walls? discover new adventures in 360 degrees. and explore fascinating world heritage sites. d, w world heritage is 360. get the app. now with this is the dublin years asia coming up today, a special edition looking back at the ongoing challenges of democracy across asia. why democracy is more than just a fancy word, and why citizens should be bodied when government act with impunity against them would be given me in my way to cool off, took a democratically lead government in february and brought it out to lead us to court

. what next for a country that had only recently returned to the democratic party? hong kong was forced to draw a democratic line dictated by beijing, one that sent the city to tom oil. but a band of boys brought some respite with their cantonese pop songs. with not much to sing and dance about in india where new government regulations target post on social media. something activists have called digital apologize. ted in ism, and the filipino nobel peace prize winner who explains why social media companies are also to blame for weakening democracy around the globe of rollback from democracy globally, that tearing apart she, this is big. it's because it's a sneak ah,

by british manager, thanks for joining us. on the morning of the 1st of february this year as me and my was set to hold its 1st session of parliament with the newly elected government, the army took over a coup that some saw coming many others didn't. the army led by this man mean on hearing claimed fraud in recent elections when nobel laureate, on sang sushi is body swept to paw. what followed was a bloody crack down as people rose up to protest their mandate that was stolen right before their eyes. the nighttime arrests on the 1st of february, democratic leaders locked up after winning an election landslide. among those carted away nobel peace prize winner and de facto political leader and song, sushi. the hunters leader said the army intervened after protests over legit

election fraud way. he cited myanmar as 2008 constitution drafted by the army, which includes the power to suspend government. he also was dying that the army is always there for the citizens. several. it always acts according to the law and obeys the constitution of 2008. it is our part, the army held the election so that all the parties could have justice. immediately more protest swept the country, and in late february, a general strike that didn't stop the military government from arresting thousands of people. demonstrators were killed and some protests became violent. since then, the democracy movement has suffered severe setbacks, ang songs, which she was charged with a variety of offences ranging from illegal use of walkie talkies to subversion. while some activists took up arms making common cause in rural areas with militant

members of persecuted ethnic groups like the qur'an, who had long been at war with the state. d. w, spoke with journalist, a men sant earlier this year about what that could mean. you know, in many ways no one has been in civil war for the last 70 or so years. i think what we really see now is the beginning of an all out war in which even the city centers are affected and no one's really safe. whereas before, you know, people who are safer, safer, especially if they went over the areas, it's far from clear what the international community can do. the military leadership has already survived years of international sanctions and pariah status . on the world stage. with democratic liter sideline, the bloodshed seems almost certain to go on to hong kong next. but all democratic protest continued to be constrained by the national security law. in the 18 months since it's been in force, at least

a $150.00 people have been arrested, including well known hong kong rose like media tycoon, jimmy ly, and student leader, joshua wong. the cracked owned and freedoms in their city has left many hong kong as contemplating their future. should their stay or should they go to their protests or do they move on with their lives as best as they can. but in the midst of this gloom, there has been some welcome destruction. a new boy band that's redefining the cantonese pop. hong kong was famous for in the eighty's. hundreds of people gather in a shopping mall in hong kong. but this time they're not protesting. they're super fans of mirror and the latest boy band sensation to day 3 of nearest 12 members are making an appearance of to all the social upheaval in hong kong. it's a scene feel good if imagined

a lot of bad things happened in hong kong in the past. yes, so he, i saw the many citizens were upset for a long time, but there was no emotional outlet with mirror. hong kong has become a lively place again. i pro democracy protests, a freedom shrinking national security law. and a clamp down on activists all have dominated life in hong kong. and on top of the political turmoil is a pandemic that still has no end in sight. for many mirror has become a welcome escape. besides relief, the group also offers believe that the cities pop culture is due, thriving. some say their music has marked a new era of canto pop. for

a city that few so beaten down, suddenly there's something people can few proud of. again, delta her long point holy, it's a local group. of course we need to support them. they represent our spirit, hong kong, as should support hong kong us. go do such a highly joined. the band came out of a t v. talent competition. episode. after episode, dozens of contestants gave their role to advance to the next round. their persistence captured the hearts of people all ages where they will find out anything of the boys worked hard for their dreams and that's a mirror of our young people to day. for my death, many of them few very disillusioned jada i am being ugly things. a boy band can encourage young people to endeavor, gallagher. for some, the group holds up

a mirror to hong kong is telling them they can still have dreams. in february india, past new rules that essentially allow the government to determine what people can and can't post on social media. it was a move, some activists likened to digital authoritarianism. this was evident just a few months later in april as the country buckled under the strain of a 2nd covered wave. as indians tread please for help and information on availability of beds, oxygen and other medical supplies. the government asked twitter to take down posts, criticizing its response, treats such as this one from member of parliament from the opposition congress party run for a day where he pointed to the collapse of the health care system in india. due to the more than 200000 cases being recorded daily minister in the state of west bengal molar. got oak lamented that the government had underplayed the court on about a situation in the country where spin goal was one of the indian states was affected by the rising cases. the government didn't officially see why it had asked twitter

to take down these critical threats. but i asked one of india's leading voices on the spread of online misinformation and hate picks him up if he thought the move was justified. these are all mary jane when criticism no element of misinformation i hate and does not at all to meet the standards of twitter as a platform to police these tweets. so is the government then using its powers to block descent on social media? absolutely, all of these tweets, which would be considered critical of the government and the government is forcing platforms. and unfortunately the platforms are buckling as well. but the government is forcing at homes to adhere to certain names where you know that descent is but what not. social media companies themselves, what part do they play in keeping the democratic spirit alive?

a very important one. according to philippines, john list margareta, she's a joint winner of the 2021 nobel peace prize. when i spoke to her in october after the award was announced, she explained why social media companies in her country are responsible for twisting funds and how ultimately that is affecting democracy. here is a part of that interview. i think that the rollback of democracy, globally, at that tearing up part of the shared reality has as been it's because of tac. it's because news organizations lost our gate keeping powers to technology and technology. took the revenues. we used to have a, you know, a long with they took the powers, but they abdicated responsibility. and i think this is a wake up call at that's happening. not just for journalists with the nobel with the nobel spotlight, but also you are seeing many more sophisticated discussions about what exactly is

wrong that we're moving finally away from content moderation to where we should be, which is algorithmic distribution algorithmic amplification, and how it has insidiously manipulated human beings on the platform. you have, you have been at facebook, you have been a part of many panels at facebook that has looked at just things like these. and i mentioned facebook because it is very popular in the, in the philippines. what would you like to see happen with big tech like facebook? i think the 4 of the problem is that all the social media platforms treat lies and facts, identically, their data points rate. and the research has now shown us that on social media lice laced with anger and spread faster and further than facts. so you can say that the world's largest delivery platform of news is actually biased. again,

facts and bias against journalism. and as a result of that fundamental choice that the tech platforms have made, we have cheap army social media, rolling back democracy in $81.00 countries around the world that is from oxford university's computational propaganda research project. so it's, so here's the other thing that dawned on me that last time a journalist was given, this honor was in 9036. he wasn't able to go accept the order in person in our slow because he was in a nazi concentration camp anguished in, in the nazi concentration camps. and so i think that's the signal that the nobel committee is telling us again, that we're kind of at this existential moment where we could lose our rights. we could lose democracy if we lose the facts about president i'm

with for you to check out some of our other stories on our website over the phone over close. we believe you today with these pictures of ones from across the region from this posture up to you next time her the fight against the corona virus pandemic. how has the rate of infection been developing? what does the latest research say? information and context? the corona virus update the coded 19 special next on

d w. every journey begins with the 1st step and every language with the 1st word. hello, nikko is in germany to learn german lou with why not learn with him yourself. it's simple online, on your mo bile and free t w's e learning course. nico speak, german made easy. ah, blue brazil has been a latin american leader in fighting the corona virus. but it wasn't always that way . the country was battered by the coven 19 pandemic. with 618000 debts, it's 2nd only to the united states for the number of fatalities. now infections in

brazil have plummeted to do to high vaccination rates. nearly 80 percent of adults have been vaccinated at least once, but fear remains, particularly as the country prepares for the impact of the new omicron variant. welcome to your coven, 19 special. i'm daniel winter. brazil is ending the year on a high. not have coven cases, like some countries, but vaccinations. let's take a look now at how the country faced down mounting deaths and a president who down played the impact of the virus to become one of the world's most vaccinated populations against coven. hardly any one in the world thought it possible. a year ago, the corridor this hospital in the brazilian city of toledo is deserted. a lot of the emergency equipment has been put away in the storage room. this is the result of what might be brazil's most successful vaccination drive against corbett 19. she

goes with us. we used to have 40 intubated patient, c, a u. now we don't have any. and it's very rare for us these days to have to provide that level of intensive care cases that are also much less severe than before. so we can think more carefully about how best to treat those who are sick and to give them a better prognosis. my stamps would be processing major with oversee it is a far cry from the 1st half of 2021. copied casualties peaked in april, reaching more than $4000.00 deaths in a 24 hour period, brazil's mega city. so paolo was averaging between 70800 deaths a day to day. it is the country's poster child for coroner virus vaccinations with 99 percent of adults here having received at least one shot by november. i

asked this course, i think people should get vaccinated, and that means every one of us had oprah lena as it is their mice, me, or that the me view. many brazilians are afraid of the virus and get vaccinated, so as not to be contagious. as soon as i come at all, man in record, star brazilians believe in vaccines. after all, we have been getting vaccinated against tropical diseases for a long time. we like it. but while brazil may have turned a corner in fighting the pandemic for now, there is one persistent problem. poverty has been exacerbated. ordinary brazilians are struggling earlier in the year, we met sylvia dale since a cook, who was supporting 3 other adults as the only one in her family to still have work . oh, be it just one day a week. she used to work other jobs too, but her other employers let her go for fear of infection that want to get us up.

and the me a, you live on that, that this pandemic is difficult. it's going on. i love her starving and look at that apart. from l have damage it does to your health. look at this cannot be met. we're all on the same boat back, but no more than a mental bath. every afternoon, sylvia was chewing up the food donations since the beginning of the pandemic in brazil in march last year, the residence association has been distributing rations. the latest figures, surely, economy stagnating, and inflation rising. food prices increasing while jobs remain few and far between . while the worst may be over the pandemic is still ravaging brazil, bringing poverty and hunger to more and more people. and let's get more now, is fabiola al, a research doctor specializing in infectious diseases. thank you very much for joining us of fabio. and what's your opinion on why brazil has been so quick to take up the vaccines?

thank you for having me here, daniel. well, i think that, and we've known we've known that for sure for decades that the main reason for the success in brazil with vaccination is the public health system that is universal in brazil. so free for every brazilian. and within this system, there has been for decades, very complex and efficient vaccination system that has worked to get even to very remote areas in the country. so we created a culture of vaccination as well as the for structured, needed to get to every brazilian as quick as possible. and so it was that infrastructure which already existed that overcame the resistance from the top of national government. would you say? yes, especially because this health care system that we have in brazil that is similar to what has been a reference in the u. k. provides institutional structure. so it's

very solid. so our institutions are stronger than any promissory or temporary government who will not. that might not be supporting this system as much as needed. so obviously there were several and major limitations because it's been underfunded chronically. but still it's in place and working and it has the population said more to 75 percent of the population actually uses the system regularly and it is structured in a way that locals. our agents are community agents that knock on people's doors and follow the health situation of the entire family. so they rely on this system. the bridge brazilians rely on this public health system. and that's why vaccination was not such a new idea or challenging idea. despite all the difficulties that we had with communication and just goes to show how important that kind of long term investment

in education around vaccines, especially around infrastructure and how that re pays off. but when we look to the short term, is it time for brazil now to open up a new year, open up the carnival? is some politicians they're suggesting? or is that just too early? well, we are going through a new moment. we're learning as time goes by how to deal with the demick and not only from the perspective of the virus and disease, but also as a community, as a global society. so after 2 years of going back and forth with locked downs and strict measures, we have to learn how to better handle the situation because it's a much different situation from what we had 2 years ago. as was mentioned in brazil, we have the majority of the population in major cities like sound polar and rio over 90 percent of the adult population is fully immunized. so even if we have

a surge of cases which is likely to happen is already starting at this point, like we see in europe and north america, we expect that hospitalizations and the death toll will be very different. and a lot. ready smaller than we had in previous waves. so hopefully and we are preparing for that situation. we will deal with mild disease that will actually create pressure on the health care system, but not in hospital. is it hospitalizations and decimals. ok. and your mentioning in that the will factoring in the, on the cron variant and the new wave which could come from that. so that flexibility is important that as well with dealing with new variance. but i want to move on to, as we saw in the report, the fact that poverty has wasn't in brazil. what's the connection in brazil between poverty and cove? it well, it's a direct connection as it is, i think,

world wide. because as we have to slow down the economy and all the activities, the social activity is those who are more vulnerable, i have less opportunity to earn dear basic needs. and that creates an even bigger difference between dos who have more of the funds and, and the money from, from the country and those who have less access. so this is creating, increasing this difference in brazil and in many other parts of the world. right, well it's a plenty of lessons to learn from brazil. it seems fabulous. i'll thank you very much for that. thank you. and now it's time for you to ask and for us to answer up his if you a question for our science correspondent derek williams. oh,

can vaccines and the pandemic? oh no, it's interesting to look for nearly 2 years of reporting on this pandemic and, and realize how much our ways of thinking about some things have changed over that period of time. remember, for instance, when we all more or less thought that if we could just manage to vaccinate 60 to 70 percent of the world, then we'd had heard immunity and, and sars covey to would be conquered and were just sort of magically go away. well, along with vaccine hesitancy in many places, the arrival of new, more highly transmissible variance and waning vaccine induced immunity, of gonna put paid to that idea. experts don't talk about heard immunity much anymore. and i think that's because it's always been pretty closely associated with

the thought that we'd be able to eradicate coven 19. and, and most scientists no longer believed that we'll be able to do that. in fact, the most thank. now that the declaration that the pandemic is finally over when it comes, that it'll be a less of a bang and kind of much more of a whimper. for most experts, the goal has stopped being to wipe out the disease entirely, but instead to manage it as we do others. and that's where vaccines will play a really major role. though the evidence indicates that vaccines don't do as much as we'd like to hinder the transmission of stars covey to or to stop infection with the virus entirely. they do generally prevent the development of severe symptoms that can lead to hospitalization and death. so, in that sense,

vaccines pan and a pandemic, i'm not by helping us to wipe out sars covey do completely like, the smallpox vaccine wiped out that pathogen. but instead, by protecting enough people well enough that one day we'll be able to live with coven 19 ike. we already live with the flu. boom, and that's it for your covert 19 special. i'm daniel winter from me and the whole team stay healthy. stay safe and see you again soon. with

who know their importance to the economy is huge, but getting hold of them is often a dirty business. critical commodities make us mo bile make our

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subscribe to d w documentary on youtube. m. hundreds of eaves in my hands when i come from glad your immense, unimportant means of transmitting needles and information. and when i was young, my country was brought in many of the war. trav tipton's, most people. what gods up around, tried you received? it was my job to, to in one of the lot of just odd you 6 so that everyone in the town called listen tools that days or nothing has been forensic my long katia, enjoy mod, done to long even stop. i had us, i was, it's way of i choice in this case it has given

a way to transmit. my name is negative moment and i will dw ah ah, this is d w. news coming to you live from berlin. another independent voice in hong kong is silent. the website stand, news says it's closing down after being rated and having its assets. frozen. lease made arrests and confiscated documents. also coming up as palm a.