[000:00:00;00] ah m ah ah ah, this is dw news coming to live from berlin. people around the world begin bringing

in the new year. you're looking at live images from hong kong, which was putting on a light show at victoria harbor festivities in many places are big scaled back this year, a mid rising coven. 19 cases also coming up, germany's new chancellor gives his purse new year's address. love sholtes urges the public to stand together and get vaccinated. ah hello, i'm terry martin. welcome to the program. it's new years eve in much at eastern asia is ringing in 2022 at this hour. you're looking at live images from hong kong . were the victoria harbor skyline is being lit up, including the city's new art museum which opened last year. events also include a small concert, petering local acts in much of mainland china,

which is all one time zone. popular traditions have been cancelled altogether due to fears of the spread of corona virus, especially ahead of the beijing winter olympics, which are just a few weeks away. china's president, she jin pink said in his new year's address, that concerted efforts were needed to maintain prosperity and stability in hong kong. 7 journalists were arrested during the week on sedition charges in the territory, and in remarks likely to worry tie will. and she said re in a vacation was a goal for people both on the self ruled island and the mainland. tensions between beijing and tie, pay have been growing with china's stepping up military activity near the taiwan strait. thank you. you know, my well here in germany there are still a few hours left of 2021 and the new german chancellor has recorded his 1st new year's address to the nation in comments due to be broadcast later today. all are sholtes urged all germans to stand together in the fight against covered 19 and to

get vaccinated. other than tackling the pandemic, the german leader said, the biggest challenge for the upcoming year was to lay the foundations for germany's future development. i think one small changes that today i'm the one speaking to you on new year's eve as your federal chancellor. things are different this year. after 16 years of new years, addresses by angle america, germany's new head of government roasted a task for the 1st time. chancellor shall send out the challenges faced by the country in 2021, acknowledging the hardships that have been endeared, such as december's floods in western germany, and facing the resilience people have shown, especially during the pandemic. monte vic lies days. some people complain that our society is divided. i'd like to take this opportunity to make it very clear that in fact the opposite is true. our country is standing together by what i see everywhere as tremendous, solidarity,

and incredible spurts of helping others. and people coming together and mutual support in order to cab copied 19 infections of shuts, appeared once again to people to get vaccinated. if isn't that the, we know that those who are not yet vaccinated are at particular risk of becoming infected and suffering from long and severe illness. for this reason, i would like to urge you once more to get vaccinated. the new government's vaccination efforts have already hit their fast my stone with 30000000 vaccines administered since the end of november and further 30000000 doses planned by the end of january valesh held so so to oppertunity, to emphasize to coalitions goes on climates and meet them within 25 years, we want germany to become climate neutral into achieve this, we will move forward with the greatest transformation our economy is seen in more than a century. in this period we will achieve independence from coal,

oil and gas. and he reminded listeners of one of his social democratic party's key election promises. an eastern pay is also a matter of respect. that's why in 2022 will be taking a major step in increasing the legal minimum wage to 12 years per hour shelters. first new year's address soon with optimizon, it was a declaration of good faith that he also called on people to play the part in forming the future. gifting upgrade the beginning of a new decade, a new era as dawning lawyer, an error that will be successful if we actively shape it. because we can make a difference if we remain determined and take out, fight into our own hands. zips than deanthony. you can watch the new york address by the german chancellor in its entirety at 7 p. m. central european time right here on d. w. now let's catch up on some of the other stories making headlines around the world today. none number of people were thought to be missing in northern belgium after a powerful gas explosion. the blast in the town of turn held destroyed part of

a residential building. at least one person is said to be trapped in the debris, while another has been hospitalized. you as president joe biden, and his russian counterpart vladimir putin have discussed russia's troop build up near the ukrainian border. biden demanded a di escalation and threatened russia with new sanctions. but hootin warned such measures would cause a complete rupture of ties. bilateral talks are set to continue in geneva. and in january, tens of thousands of residence in the us state of colorado have been forced to evacuate due to quickly spreading wildfires. the flames swept through residential areas near the city of denver, burning hundreds of homes, a shopping complex, and a hotel authority say these are the worst fires the state has ever seen. fakes, mike fills the air outside as the fire approaches. at

this diner in superior town, just outside denver, colorado panicked families tried to get out with strong winds of finding the fire. diners rushed to that cause, hoping to out race, the fast moving blaze. gusts of a 100110 miles an hour can have moved this fire down a football field in a matter of seconds. very little time to get out very little time to even get the most important parts of your life. and yes, it'll be a difficult process for colorado families who are due for direct affected to rebuild their lives. before the fi is consumed, nearly 600 homes, tens of thousands of residents in 2 towns. north of denver were evacuated. officials believe power lines down by strong winds could have caused the initial

sparks and grasslands dried by an extreme drought. offered the conditions for the wild fires to grow out of control. testing even the most seasoned emergency cruise . we've actually had no deputy sheriffs and firefighters in areas that had to pull out because it would be just got over run. so there was a lot of brave stuff corner to do out there. as the fi is continue into the night, the weather service is full, costing a much needed snow full later on friday, snow that residents will be hoping can help dampen these flames. nelson, encouraging news on the corona, virus pandemic from south africa, government officials, they're say it's possible that the country may be passed. the peak of the all mc kron variant which was 1st attacked of their last month. it was feared that sick

patients would overwhelm the health care system, but that didn't happen instead, hospitalization, rates decreased to despite the more contagious nature of on the chrome. now ahead of the new year, south africans are feeling hopeful. this was the epicenter of only crone, but infections have dropped and residents of gutting province a basking into relief as our local health care workers, me grown woe at fat at, at prominent healthcare level. definitely for the average patient cause as much mild as sometimes than even delta. if i look at my own personal exp unions of a 110 patients, we had to committed 3 to 4 patients. i'm not very severely you. the probability of landing in a hospital with only chron is 80 percent lower than the delta infections. experts

say the reason is threefold. a great many people in south africa already have some immunity against the virus due to past infections. secondly, the new parent is weaker, and thirdly, vaccines have helped. almost 40 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. patients who nevertheless need hospitalization, are not severely sick. very often hospitalized. h ha, after listen, we monitor how many needed oxygen all easy. i see you can call cause i'm asked that he what he has seen it. so fiance, whose is when noted in those with on cranberry some south africans wonder if omicron is a blessing in disguise. those who fall sick are not too sick. and the infections act as natural boosters stay in south africa. people are streaming

into cape towns, cathedral for a 2nd day to pay their respects to archbishop desmond tutu for a 2nd day. to do was a leader in the struggle against apartheid white oppression of black south africans . he died last sunday at the age of 90. our correspondence was o comalla was outside saint george's cathedral. when to his body arrived, the coffin has now been taken out into this cutter. this is wade is going to spend the all day, and people are going to be coming year, one by $1.00 to pay at their last respect to say to some of the men that they've loved. so much to some of the men was down so much f for this kind of special when it comes to men, right? when it comes to equality, when it comes to making sure the government does exactly what is supposed to do in terms of our saving is people. so the all day the board is going to be like where instead to what we know is data to more,

which is the big day when the actual burial is going to be it taking place when the barrel is this. it is set for for to morrow. hey, in the money, what is going to happen is that he is going to be committed and dare his ashes up won't be buried under the floor of this capital where he has worked for an long time and we're safe to people for a long time. it was his wish that he be in ted here and here they have ascended to that wish it is going to be happening all here. oh, and because the space is mall, and because his coffee time, it is only expected that 100 people are going to be allowed inside the sporting year and was again severely impacted by the pandemic. but some big events postponed from the previous year did take place these included the man's european football championship and the tokyo olympics. 2020 one's 1st big sporting event was the australian open tennis tournament. novak jock of ich,

when the 1st of 3 grand slam titles for the year naomi osaka took the women's title . but she skipped much of the rest of the season to prioritize her mental health. the 1st of several sports stars to raise the issue during the year for both men's euros tried to pu spectator numbers in corona various times. 67000, so italy, crown deserved winners. for most though, the euros will be remembered for denmark, midfield, a christian, erickson's cardiac, a rest during a game. and his subsequent recovery argentina, greatly anal, messy was the other big football story of the year. he finally won a major international title by lifting the corporate america, but also stunned fans by tearfully leaving his beloved barcelona for paris on jemma . the tokyo olympics took place a year later than scheduled, despite strong opposition to the games in japan. due to the pandemic. norwegian

carson vall, hm sensational world record in the 400 meters hurdles was a sporting highlight. am it empty stands but gymnastics darcy, mom biles hit the headlines despite only earning a bronze and silver. she withdrew from several events, citing mental health struggles, prompting widespread praise, including from olympics chief, thomas back. olympic emperor, olympic officials, were just glad to get through the games without major cove. it outbreaks among competitors, max the step and was crown formula one champion after a filling season dominated by on track controversy. including his final at victory . the year came to a close of fears for the well being of tennis by a pong sky. after she appeared to accuse a former chinese vice premier of sexual assault only to retract the allegation 2021 has been another challenging year for sport. 2022 is expected to be no different. you're watching d. w news. just a reminder, the top story we're following for you today. people around the world have begun

bringing in the new year. australia's largest city sydney was among the 1st to welcome 2022, drawing thousands of revelers to watch it's famous fireworks despite record numbers of covered 19 cases. you watching t w news from berlin up next. we've got business for you with rob watts. from me and all of us here at dw, thanks for watching. ah,