crazy, so your data, we explain how these technologies work, how they can only go wilson for that's how they can also go terribly. watch it new to ah, this is dw news lie from burly in hong kong, joins china, easing pandemic restrictions including welcoming arriving visitors without pc your test showing their covert free. but going the other way, hong kong ers and chinese citizens will need tests for travel to the us,

japan and some other nations. in exodus from the liberated ukrainian city of hershawn as it faces a blistering onslaught of russian shelley. some people are deciding not to risk becoming the wars. next casualty. and concern grows over the health of former pope benedict. the 16th the vatican says he is very ill and doctors are monitoring his condition around the clock. ah, in a warm welcome. 12 years round the world michael o co, hong kong is dropping most of its kobe 19 restrictions following shimmer moves by mainland china, starting to day. travelers arriving to the territory will no longer have to undergo sensitive pcr tests. close contacts of those who test positive will no longer have to quarantine hong kong vaccine pass system will also be scrapped,

but compulsory mass in public places will continue. it's a significant move given the city once had some of the toughest crone of virus restrictions. in the world w corresponded phoebe kong is following the story for us in hong kong. i asked true what dropping cove restrictions will mean for people's daily lives for hong kong affectively can. so almost all of that is a bit strange and smashes that happened in post. and really the good that you have mentioned to me, paul said no more. he's down test needed for arrival with and i know more limitations on public gatherings in the public space. and also dining and also voice, actually the controversial facts in hockey strap as well. so starting from today, people are free to go to any restaurants, genes ah, beauty salon and the child without any vaccinations. so that is a really

a new south all hong kong people. i'm very excited moment for them that they have loans that they have waited for so long off or these are loosening out the aisle restrictions. so people are really excited about the new meshes. i imagine people also relieved. hey yeah, and i'm in our for ordinary people, our lives out there that daily lives are in hong kong. has become much easier as people i no longer are subject to odd. that's very, are many kind self all restrictions in a day to day are men now, but are that kind of fly, be that station or so are follows? a kind of light are size facts for people that are like many foreign countries are now considering or have already imposed our caps on travelers from mileage hina. and that includes hong kong as well. so it could be more difficult to hong kong people to go abroad to travel overseas in the coming months because of these kind

of knew phoebe in the lesson half a minute that we have. i want to ask you, hong kong is following policies and mainland china, but is to situation actually comparable? we're on the situation in hong kong, mainland china 8th period. the friends at the moment. ah, lights. the infection rate that in hong kong is, are lower than that in mainland china or china is just now it's embracing. it's fast, massive wave of infections. ah, in late 2022 about hong kong has already passed that faith that hong kong has already undergone our very serious wave infections in the beginning of this year. so, hong kong is now lay out entering the stage of endemic and the medical system is much more prepared than that of manage heiner. so the relaxation in hong kong are, is not going to like, pose much fat are comparing to mainland china about hong kong. people are also

concerned about a potential search and infections because hong kong is going to opening up our eyes . boy though with mainland china and that would bring more infections to the city and that will let bring out of that. definitely bring more concerns to local medical system that people are you over to power, but our hong kong can top of that amount of light infection is like coming from my china. right. we'll have to end it there. that's a phoebe tongue in hong kong. many, many facts. meanwhile, the united states as it will screen all air passengers arriving from china for covered 19 italy made a similar announcement earlier. the 2 nations join a growing number of countries, worried about a surgeon infections after beijing, east corona virus restrictions, including for tourism abroad. u. s. health officials say the decision came because china isn't sharing enough information about coven 900 numbers. but also,

we're now receiving reports from ukraine that russian missile attacks are targeting several regions in the country, including the capitol, keith, we will have more on that as information comes in. russian forces have also recently targeted the southern city of her son from across the negro river. moscow has stepped up, it's showing of the regional capital in recent days. the ukrainian military says russian missiles have hit at least $25.00 settlements around her son ends up regia . maternity hospital was among the buildings, damage. officials say no one was hurt as the staff and patience had been moved to a shelter. let's get a round up now of some of the other headlines at the shower veteran is really politicians. benjamin netanyahu is set to take power as prime minister of a new government later today. this will mark the 6th time netanyahu has held the office. the incoming government is regarded as the most right wing in israel's

history. ethnic serves living in northern kosovo, will now dismantle roadblocks that were erected to protest the rest of a former ethnic sure policeman. the announcement comes after serbian president alexander's which it urged ethnic serbs to reconsider their actions in a meeting to discuss the 19 day long disruption kosovo declared independence from serbia in 2008. but it a major fire at a 10000000000 hotel facility has filled at least 10 people and left several dozens injure thought. the fire broke out in a border town around midnight. local time. neighboring thailand sent fire trucks to help fight the blaze. cliche, some 400 people were in the building. at the time of the fire. pope francis has called for prayers for the former pint of benedict. the 16th who he says is quote, very ill. francis has visited benedict in his residence inside the vatican where

he's been living since stepping down as leader of the catholic church. for some 600 years, no pope had resigned from a pontiff benedict the 16th. and at that centuries, long stretch in 2013 fighting poor health since then, his lift a quiet life out of the spotlight known as pope ameritas, burglary saw the benedict condition worsening. his successor pope frances has asked people to pray for him at a general audience. in the vatican or a hero clicked the boy. i would like to ask all of you for a special prayer for pope ameritas benedict, who in silence is sustaining the church vessel. and let us remember him. he is very sick hamilton, asking the lord to console and sustain him in this witness of love for the church and christa until the end. more yet he is he not ruffin benedict was pope for less than 8 years. he became the 1st pontiff to apologize for scandals over

political sex abuse of children, but was criticized for failing to end cover ups by the church. and although his held has been declining in his retirement, but frances is known to have said that benedict retained a good sense of humor with his brother for they don't have a box in roman across the european cities. many people was sad to hear the news of his blossoming help. i don't remember him a spoke because i was still a child, but he's suddenly a good person. he se sick. so i think it's right that people pray for him. he goes by the 27th, of course be identified with him very much because he was a german pope and i have great respect for him to get. we're worried because the death of a pope is very important and we hope it's not going to happen. hope and prayers for a pontiff who's shot and controversial. pepsi broke with tradition benedict. the

16th is now being closely watched around the clock by doctors at the vatican. let's go to rome now and speak to author in journalists, philip will. and philip, could you tell us a little bit more about the condition of the former pope where po benedict is receiving around attention from my doctor's apparently is a condition no began to decline before christmas. and it's been said that he has been suffering from a respiratory problem, even reports in italian media that he's now attached to a respirator. clearly the situation is grave and the terms in which francis spoke about his health problems seem to suggest that he may be approaching the end of his life. on a respirator,

we understand that the pope francis has been visiting his predecessor, vendor director frequently. what can you tell us about their relationship. busy when things are very successfully in a very friendly atmosphere between 2 frances with his predecessor as being a wise grandfather who it was very convenient for him to have close at hand within the vatican grounds living in the monastery but can ground. but over the years, a bit of a rift between the 2, with representing a conservative forces in a certain amount of complexity about processes liberal

reforms. bennett became the 1st pope to resign in 600 years. as we all know. remind us what his papacy was like. what of course, the thing that everyone remembers about him now is there were president resignation . but then it, it was a very highly respected theologians. and his articulation of the essence of the catholic faith was i think it is what people will remember about him. a clear minded think a man of considerable career as someone who enjoyed the tradition, traditions of the church addressing in traditional people. ready robes speaking in the latter, and basically someone very much concerned with preserving the

past in contrast to francis, who is very much moving towards the future. that is the author and journalist philip will end in rome many, many thanks. well 2022 is rapidly drawing to a close and it will soon be time to look forward to what the new year will bring. but it's also time to reflect on the good and bad of 2022. for some that means waving good bye to unpleasant memories and that's exactly what people have been doing at the annual good riddance event in new york times where i does she need to 2023 after shredding thrashing and bashing 20. 22. for the people here this year has been one to for guess. they lined up to write down all the bad

things they wanted to say. good riddance to in 2022. they range from poverty to single use plastics. a moment of catharsis, and an opportunity to look forward. so in 2023, i'm trying to get rid of a lot of doubt that i had in plenty, plenty to. i just enjoy like more. you know, it's been very, it's been a very negative couple years. i hope that 2023 boards in scope have gone down. ah, no, it will be better. and for one, man, it was an opportunity to celebrate simply being alive. but this with my hands or mass that i had the we're going through radiation and chemo. got diagnosed in january of this year. and my daughter emo radiates in surgery. and it means that i made it through. that's basically why still alive? for us good readings 2022 a year with its fair share of highs and lows. now all that's left to do is cross

over into 2023 and see what the new year has to bring your way into a $30.00 gift card. that's all from me for now. don't forget there's more to be found at our breaking news app and on social media. the handle for instagram and twitter is at d. w. news. a michael o cook in berlin for me and the team here. thanks for your company and wherever you're watching, have a great day. ah, nico is in germany to learn german lodge, benita, why not learn with him online, on your mobile and free chest for c w e learning course, nikos vague.