climate change division, cost stores. this is much less the wage form just one week and how much was going to really get we still have time to work, so i'm dealing with his subscriber all morning with mm. oh, i see that when you news long from berlin, keeping the door open for a diplomatic solution. russia and the u. s. discuss the simmering tension

surrounding ukraine, but neither wants to give vent to the others. demands also coming up. the latest surge in cope with 19 cases is worrying governments around the globe. many are imposing new restrictions and looking for ways to stop the spread of the highly transmissible arm across variance. we miss you. we love you. we thank you. south africa, remember anti apartheid icon and nobel peace prize, laurie desmond tutu. ah, i'm the cough really, he's good to have you with us. russian president vladimir putin and his u. s. counterpart. joe biden spoke on thursday as tensions have been steadily rising over russia's true build up near the ukrainian border in the 50 med call.

biden demanded a di escalation and threatened russia with new sanctions. kootenai warned that such a move would lead to a complete rupture of ties. despite a series of irreconcilable differences, both sides agreed that there were grounds for meaningful progress. if the 2nd time this month, the 2 leaders have spoken and more talks with senior us and russian officials are set for january. for more, let's bring in james cur. take. he's a visiting fellow with the brookings institute, specialize on european politics and u. s. foreign policy strategy. mister curtis, these were the 2nd talks this month between president biden and putin. what results do you expect? i think they'll be more stalemate because i don't see the united states backing down. i said he had stated his allies because this really should not be a conversation between the united states and russia over the heads of the

ukrainians. this is, this is about the democratic west, the free world. it's about the european community standing up for the really post world war 2 settlements and values, which is the countries are not allowed to invade other countries and sees their territory whenever they like it, which is precisely what russia did in 2014 in alex thing. crimea and what it's been threatening to do over the past several weeks. so i think the west's in the free world needs to stand firm and making clear to mr. bruton. that is bella. ca city will be met with severe response not only by european union in the united states, but also think by ukrainians. i think the could have a very tough fight. and actually, i don't, i don't think he's going to launch a full scale invasion of ukraine because i think he's quite aware of the consequences of that though, mr. curtis, russia, ones, nato,

to commit to never allowing ukraine to join. you say that the west should stand firm? how likely do you think the, by the ministration is to scale back cooperation with ukraine in response to these russian concerns? i don't think they will. it's been a pretty strong bipartisan policy in this country. over the past. really since the end of the cold war and certainly since the invasion of ukraine in 2014, to stand with the sovereign decisions of independent countries in europe and ukraine, like any other country like russia is allowed to make its own foreign policy decisions. provided that they don't violate or threaten their neighbors. and if there's only one country that's threatening a neighbors, it's russia, ukraine. the notion that russia has a legitimate security interest in this feels threatened by nato or by ukraine is preposterous. russians are constantly invading their neighbors. they've been doing

this for 70 years and they had a problem with it. and that's what we're seeing again, unfortunately. how can we move forward from the stalemate from this situation? i think the message needs to be sent to the kremlin that any further violation of ukrainian sovereignty will be met with very punishing sanctions. i think that they should be kicked off the international swift banking system. there should be the certainly in your country in germany, the nor seem to pipeline should not be going forward. that is a major strategic and i would say moral error on the part of the german government as it gives russia enormous leverage over central eastern europe. and over frankly, the political decision making of, of european countries. so that should also be put to a halt. and i also think that i think we should be increasing our military support

to ukraine. i'm not advocating sending american soldiers or any european country sending their own soldiers to fight in ukraine against russia. certainly, we should be sending them all the military aid and support and arms that they need . right, james car, take pleasure speaking to you. thanks for sharing your opinion. on that rapidly arising code 19 infections are worrying governments around the globe. many countries are hastily introducing limits on new year's celebrations in an effort to curb the spread of the virus and recent days, various countries have registered record numbers of new infections. and officials say the highly contagious on the cranberry and is to blame. despite a shortage of tests, the u. k has been reporting record breaking case numbers just like denmark. many countries in europe are seeing unprecedented peaks amid the rapids spread of the omicron variant in germany. case numbers are also rising,

but for now still comparatively low isn't in schools and overall, we're a bit more disciplined than some of our european neighbors. asia masks are especially effective against our micron, that sets germany apart. we cannot forget that england and denmark barely had social distancing measures in place recently, and masks were not born. that is certainly different here in germany. us is in balance, indoor chance one, unless the end of the year come may be deceptive. few tests were administered during the holidays and numbers reported more slowly. health minister car lauterbach says the actual volume of cases could be 2 to 3 times higher, and a spike may be seen quite soon. queues at test centers are increasing. this location in berlin carries out over a 1000 tests a day. this and we feel it's coming that the numbers are slowly increasing on the same thing. by mid january there should be a more realistic picture of the situation, but the number of confirmed omicron cases is increasing at a faster pace in northern germany. as the sage entirely possible that the proximity

to scandinavian nations is a factor. micron is very dominant there. so the virus may be traveling over the border. i think everyone understands that a virus will not stop at borders. i think he's just the was fun again finish. i had my over federal and state officials in germany a do to meet on the 7th of january, to map out a strategy to combat the spread of the virus. earlier we spoke to epidemiologist, eric final dang and asked him why so many countries are seeing record numbers despite a broad rule out of booster shots booster shots work. but booster shot role as you know is very inadequate. is incredibly slow. many places they take time for to work, and con, increases exponentially. well, you can only roll them out. logistically feasible, as you can. but this is a virus is $5.00 to $6.00 times more contagious than delta, which was already twice contagious in the strength of last year. so we're talking

about strain potentially 10 times more contagious than before. nothing we do right now is enough to keep up unless you think of something on a blanket decide on scale. and that's why when the mitigations were used to p, i'm across delta and other barrington check will be sufficient enough against all crime. and with high cases you're going to boom, the number of people infected and ultimately overwhelm the hospital. that was eric vital things, speaking to us earlier. let's get you up to speed now on some other story making moves around the world today. authorities in northern colorado have orders thousands of residents to evacuate dry conditions are fueling the spread of dangers . wildfires and fierce winds are helping the flames jump from one location to the next 2 communities about 32 kilometers. northwest of denver have been hit by the blazes doctors in sudan. so security forces have shot dead for

protests or is during demonstrations against military rule. tens of thousands of people brave tear gas and to find a security lock down in khartoum and other cities. calling for a peaceful transition and free elections. a bomb has exploded in pakistan, killing at least 4 people police a 15 others have been injured. the blast took place outside the gate of a science college and keta city. no group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. residence in brazil's northeastern state of by year or a surveying the damage after devastating floods. the region was lashed by weeks of heavy rain that has killed at least 24 people and injured many more. hundreds of towns and cities have declared states of emergency and are appealing for aid from the brazilian government and foreign countries. flooded roads burst.

dumbs devastated homes the aftermath of 2 months of intense rain in the stated by yeah, is for was floating to hip, a region in over 30 years. dozens are dead and tens of thousands displaced. i left everything behind but i'm waiting for the water to go down. so i could start clearing my house. now surveying the damage for the 1st time. every room here is in the water and there's a little that is still dry. for those who had little before is a devastating loss, but i've lost everything. fridge, freezer, sofa bed ever go in other parts of the state, the water has already gone. this entire street was once submerged. now for damage caused by the flooding is fully exposed. i saw i only managed to save my television

while i got my mattress out, but i won't use it. it's soaking wet. you. i lost my fringe wardrobe so far. plaza, everything is gone that you residents, he are repealing for aid, clean drinking water, food and show to provoke with no where to go. or far it is a struggling to cope with the scale of the destruction. the governor maria is calling. it's for worst disaster in the states history. in south africa, a memorial service has been held for the late archbishop desmond to to the anti apartheid fighter and nobel laureate, died last weekend at the age of 90. his funeral is set to take place on new year's day and cape town. people across the rainbow nation happened remembering too, too, and paying their respects. ah, just

a simple wooden coffin for a man whose being remembered as a humble hero. schools gathered in johannesburg and cape town to remember archbishop emeritus desmond to, to one of the rainbow nations most revered voices for human rights. his successor embraced one of 2 to his daughters. she's grieving her tata her father as to, to was known to so many south africans is like a daughter really in pain cry, or she's in bereavement. i think you need to pray for her religion or sure head up. we love her, and we will continue to supporter. even words will daughter is going to to didn't want to be remembered with pump. so inside the cathedral, a small ceremony was held leaders and ordinary south africans alike laid flowers.

and those gathered performed songs and some of to twos favorite hymns. ah, his grandson spoke and thanked mona's for helping his family through a difficult time. we've been reassured by the outpouring of love and prayers and support that aboard in from around the world. that he will not be out of mind just because he's out of sight. we miss you. we love you. we thank you. as to to his coffin was carried out, members of the public sang songs and celebration of his life and legacy. oh, born under apartheid he dreamed of a different south africa. and through his ministry he helped bring that nation into

being as the world readies itself to welcome the new year. the conning big bens bongs were tested ahead of celebrations in london. the clock tower of the houses of parliament had been under restoration for 3 and a half years, but the scaffolding was removed just in time for the world famous bell to perform its most important duty. london's traditional new year's fireworks and concert have been cancelled due to coven 19 restrictions, but there is no holding back. vague benz bomb are wanting to w news line from berlin and nicole really for more headlines and analysis. there's always our website for me and the entire team. thank you so much for your company. ah, internet knows all its creators for everything and

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