brent: this is w news, live from berlin, europe's largest democracy has a new reader. olaf scholz became the new trans -- chancellor of germany in a transfer of power that brought to the end of the tenure of angela merkel. in omicron morning for the world. biontech advor cautioning two shots of their coronavirus vaccine are not enough to protect people against the new variant.

and the masses fleeing the militants. the growing number of afghans risking their lives to escape the rule of the taliban. ♪ brent: i'm brent goff, tower viewers on pbs in the united states and around the world, welcome. germany has a new chancellor. the social democrat olaf scholz took the oath of office and took the reins of power from angela merkel. it was a moment political history was written here in berlin. angela merkel, the most powerful woman in the world, handed over her authority in the first transfer of power the country has seen in 16 years. her successor tonight promising germany a new beginning.

>> german chancellor olaf scholz, this is the moment he waited for. a standing ovation in the but his stock -- ovation. when asked if he accepted the decision for him to lead a country of over 80 million people, a firm yes. then flowers and fist bumps for an occasion that does not happen very often. he is just the ninth postwar chancellor of germany and its first in 16 years. the final key moment, the oath of office. >> i swear that i will dedicate my efforts to the well-being of the german people, remote their welfare, took them from harm, uphold and defend the basic law

and the laws of the federation, perform duties conscientiously and do justice to all. >> an end to the era of this chancellor. lawmakers gave angela merkel a standing ovation as they session started. she had to look on from the spectator's gallery. if you hours later, with the same stoicism that marked her office, handed over this to olaf scholz. >> congratulations dear chancellor. i know from my experience it is a moving occasion to be elected this office. as you perhaps can imagine, it is an exciting, fulfilling job and a demanding one. but if you approach it with enthusiasm, it is perhaps one of the most beautiful jobs there is. i wish you good luck and every

success for our country. >> while angela merkel leaves the chancellery for the last time, olaf scholz gets to work, holding his first cabinet meeting. his government, the three party centerleft coalition, once to make germany cleaner, farah -- wants to make germany greener, fairer, but his first to deal with the pandemic. brent: for this historic day, i'm joined with our political correspondent who has been following the events. let us talk about what we saw today. there was no real pomp and circumstance. it was a graceful transfer of power, but because it was so easily done, isn't this a day that calls for celebration? >> yes, brent, you're right.

this was a quite german transition of power. there were lots of procedural steps to follow, it was unglamorous and lots of paper certificates exchanged hands. we have to remember pandemic restrictions make huge celebrations more difficult these days, but there was a celebratory mood in the air when olaf scholz was officially elected as the next german chancellor of and officially sworn in. he also appointed his new cabinet, so it was a day when it dawned on the very last person that this era of angela merkel is coming to a close. brent: it is a new chapter that germany is writing. what do people around the world expected terms of foreign policy? he says he wants a new start. >> exactly. in many ways we can expect a sense of continuity, at least in

leadership style. olaf scholz is an experienced negotiator just like angela merkel. he is seen to be an effective, pragmatic leader in times of crisis and in terms of foreign policy, he is expected to set a similar emphasis on the role of a strong european union, germany acting within it, and strong ties with u.s.. a strong transatlantic relationship. but on the other hand, it will be interesting to see in the next couple of days and weeks how low schulz will behave toward china that's olaf scholz wilby -- how olaf scholz will behave toward russia and china. they have announced they will not send double meta delegations to the olympics in beijing and olaf scholz has left open

whether he will join this diplomatic boycott over china's human rights record. we will be -- it will be interesting to watch him to take the steps as chancellor. brent: we know the most pressing issue is the pandemic and its impact. what does he inherit from angela merkel? leonie: he inherits a pretty bad situation. germany has been hit by the fourth wave of the pandemic hard with a couple of hundred people dying every day and hospitals in some parts of the country being overwhelmed by the amount of patients that are coming in. they have to send -- because icus average capacity. so they have to hit the ground running first on the top of the

agenda, convince more people in germany to get vaccinated. germany has quite a low rate with 69.2% of adults having gotten two jabs. he needs to hit the ground running and prove you can tackle the pandemic. brent: very true, leonie, thank you. let's look at the other stories making headlines around the world. an aide to british prime minister boris johnson has resigned amid a scandal over a leaked video. the staff joking about holding up person's last december. social gatherings were banned last year under pandemic restrictions. johnson is facing calls to resign. seven united nations peacekeepers have been killed and three others wounded in central mali. theonvoy struck an explosive whil traveling to the country. jihadist groups linked to al

qaeda and others are suspected but no one has admitted it. australia, britain, the u.s. are joining the diplomatic boycott of the olympics because of human rights abuses in china. a japanese billionaire has arrived at the international space station. the online fashion tycoon and his assistant blasted off from kazakhstan earlier today. it is the first visit to the station by self paying space tourists in more than a decade. the omicron variant of the coronavirus is present 57 countries according to the world health organization. the head of the who is calling on government to act now implement a preventative measures before hospitals begin filling up again. he says early evidence shows the omicron variant may cause a

milder form of the covid-19 disease, but it could be more transmissible than earlier variants. >> emerging data from south africa suggests increased risk of reinfection with omicron, but more data is needed to draw firmer conclusions. there is also evidence that macron causes -- omicron causes minor illness than delta, but it is too early to be definitive. brent: the drugmakers biontech and pfizer say two shots of their vaccine are not enough to neutralize the omicron variant. scientists at biontech say three doses are swing a snificant increase in the production of protective antibodies. biontech has also announced it could have a new omicron specific vaccine prepared by

march of next year. here is the ceo of biontech speaking today. >> this data would predict that you will receive two vaccines and will not have a significan prevention from infection or any type of disease. but they also note that this individual will have memory t ces and b cells as well as t cell responses which are expected and which may prevent severe disease. brent: joining me from london, an epidemiologist and public health researcher at mary university of london. it is good to have you. this news that three shots of the pfizer vaccine will do the trick if you are trying to protect yourself from omicron, that may be good news for us here in europe and north

america, but what about in sub-saharan africa where many people still have not had their first shot? >> yes, it is worrying and i think that brings us to the basic message that has been put out. i think it is misleading, that vaccines are the end to the pandemic. they need to be considered one layer. there is also evidence that two doses alongside previous infection, which is common in south africa, could potentially give quite high levels of protection, at least for a duration of time. that might provide one layer of protection but other layer such as masks, ventilation, social distancing will be crucial. to think vaccines alone will avoid the crisis is not true and not materialized. brent: and as long as you have people who are not vaccinated you have bodies where this virus can continue to mutate. the who chief saying preliminary data and -- indicates variant

may be more easily transmitted to other people but because a milder form of the disease. it is not going to make you as sick as delta. could omicron be good news for the pandemic trajectory? >> no. there is no chance of that. the picture is mixed. it seems to be most severe in young people. it is milder perhaps in older people. part of that might be a vaccine effect. but we need to remember, even if it is less severe than delta, the rate at which it is increasing can overwhelm health services and oxygen supply and utilization. it is going much faster than delta and previous waves. it is doubling at three days a week and hospitalizations are more than doubling a week. at individual level it might be less severe, population level it can cause chaos and severe disease. brent: we still have people

around the world waiting to get the first injection. yet we heard from biontech that they could have an omicron specific vaccine ready by march of next year. what does that tell you about the thinking here when we have got pharmaceutical giants saying we can adapt to a new variant while we have got millions of other people still waiting for the first shot? >> it tells you about the pace ofechnologal development. but i would say the same about delta, materialized. part of the reason is by the time the delta variant emerged, it is only gone as far as developing vaccines. in six months we might have another dominant variant which is why we need a vaccine plus approach, press transmission across the world. e omicron vaccine that comes

out six month later may not work against a new variant that is here six months later. brent: that is a good point. epidemiologist and public health researcher, we appreciate your insights. thank you. morocco is one of many countries tightening coronavirus restrictions. authorities have banned inbound travel until next week at the earliest. people need vaccination certificates inside the country to go about their daily lives and this is proving controversial. >> morocco's health pass, a certificate proving vaccination against covid-19, was launched in october and is essential for access to many public spaces. the past can be obtained after receiving a dose of the vaccine. its introduction triggered a surgeon people getting inoculated, though not all say it convinced them. >> what encouraged me to take the jab was the terrible

experience of being infected with the virus. after recovery, i feared getting reinfected. i took it for my health but also for others. >> the government's decision to introduce a vaccine pass sparked widespread controversy. some moroccans who reject the requirement have protested against it. they say it limits their freedom and complicates their daily lives. >> i am against this decision. they cannot impose the vaccine on those who do not want toake it. >> people are confused and most moroccan cannot dede which side they want to be on. for the vacci or against it. there is n enoughnowledge out there about the vaccine. >> it is pretty straightforward. you must have a vaccination pass

to access some places. advanced countries are incrementing that and so should we. >> this dr. recommends getting vaccinated against covid-19. she also believes that citizens should have the freedom of choice. >> in my opinion, people should decide what goes into their bodies. we should show them of the benefits of the vaccine and not impose it on them, because then it will not work. >> the controversy over the vaccine pass also extends to questions over whether it is constitutional area -- constitutional. imposing the health pass even when the government says it is a matter of public health is a violation of freedom of choice and opinion. that is what made people protest. >> despite the demonstrations,

there are no signs the government plans to roll its decision. especially as the omicron variant to spread. -- continues to spread. brent: every day about 5000 afghans cross into iran. more than a quarter million have fled since the taliban seized power in august. many begin their journeys in this western city and attempt to cross into neighboring iran anyway they can. but iran does not want the influx. border guards sending thousands back every week. >> once a thriving oasis, this city is losing its allure. its third -- afghanistan's third largest city is under the shadow of the telegram. every night, hundreds -- taliban. every night, hundreds of people

gather at the bus station seeking their escape and plotting their futures. >> we are afraid. they are the taliban. i just got married and there is no work. expenses are high and we don't have a home. >> step-by-step, we will move through the iranian provinces to tehran. after that we have helped. we hope to get to turkey, with help will finally reach europe. >> the exodus has accelerated in recent months according to this smuggler. >> that used to be 50 to 60 passengers a week, but now there are more. since the taliban came to power, i have transported about 500 entire families. >> many of them like he and his brother packed like sardines, a desperate cargo driven across

the desert and dropped off within touching distance of the border. it is not their first time. >> from here i will cross into iran. there is nothing here, no work. we want to leave because we are poor and desperate. many times we have tried to cross we got deported and want to try again. there is no work. i have to go, my family is suffering from hunger. >> the smuggler shows them how to survive the perilous journey and offers this cautionary tale. >> one nighttwo people were killed and two others injured. i was shot in my leg. with difficulty, i escaped back to afghanistan and my brothers came and carried me. >> for their escape, there is time for evening prayers. and as the lights of iran flicker, the smuggler gives the order.

one by one they take their chances. tonight, the road to freedom is paved with danger. brent: to south america, chile's congress passed a bill to allow same-sex couples to area and adopt children. it brings equality under the law for gay couples who before were only allowed to enter into civil unions. when the president signs the bill, chile b the seventh latin american -- chile will be the seventh latin american country to legalize same-sex marriage. >> they have bn awaiting the approval of the marriage equality bill. it will also allow same-sex opals to adopt children, something fundamental for many families and children. >> today he only has one legally recognized mother, that is made. that means if i die, -- made.

that means if i die, -- me. if i die, my family members would have him, he would have to move, his rights would be violated. this is the most extreme case the fact that the state recognize our partnership not us as a family unit dose exposed. if we broke up, for examplei woulnot have the legal right to take care of my son. he would not able to demand child support from me. >> this lgbtq group has been a driving force behind the bill. it was delayed by conservative partiewho see marriage as between a man and a woman. >> if it was not the social and legal institution that grants protection, perhaps the lgbtq

population would not have to fight for this rate. -- right. but that is the case. the fact that people can now get married and feel protected before the law is a tremendous step for this country. >> polls show more than 70% of the population in chile approves of marriage equality and adoption of same-sex couples. >> we can no longer make this distinction because we are committed to the idea that everyone needs to have better access to rights, opportunities and equality before the law. those are the things that are important chile -- in chile. >> they have been together for nine years. they signed a civil union agreement ur years ago that

did not include equal parental rights, the recognition that he has two mothers. now they will be able to be a family before the law. >> obviouslye wanto get married. >> the moment they have long waiting for. -- been waiting for. >> this south african photographer is known for trying sexual freedom and self empowerment. a museum in berlin is dedicating an exhibition to the artist and archivist, and insight into the south african lgbt community and a reflection on apartheid. >> proud, powerful, sometimes vulnerable or even royal. these are some of the faces of her, whose work also confronts trauma. for 20 years she has been

documenting south africa's lgbtq community. discrimination african -- against sexual minorities has been illegal since 1996 but gays, lesbians and transgender people are still at risk as well as non-binary people like them. >> i think you live with the threat every day, but i cannot stop doing what i'm doing because it matters to me and it forms part of a south african history. >> their exhibition berlin shows survivors of anti-queer hate crimes including so-called corrective rape. but there are also images of love and care. their photos are a collaboration built on trust between the artist and subject who gazed at the viewer with confidence and admitted he. for the series faces and phases, they followed subjects over several years.

>> in that way, photography is a continuing journey in life of building visual histories with the community. they also invite friends and associates to look fearless, to be old and desiring, to be unafraid of the camera. >> their self-portraits make reference to the toxic legacy of apartheid. this photo recalls the massacre of 34 mine workers in 2012. others pay tribute to the artists mother who works -- worked as a servant to white families to feed her eight children. they say these stories need telling to. -- too. >> and is time we undo that racial erasure and take

ownership of our voices, our archives and to say we are proud of who we are as black people. >> confident and empowered, there hunting images celebrate queer beauty and dignity, taking -- their hunting images celebrate your beauty and dignity, making them visible to the world. brent: after break we will go through the day. germany has a new chancellor, why there are smiles on both sides of the atlantic. we will be right back. ♪

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>> welcome to "live from paris," world news and analysis from france 24. i'm mark en. boris johnson resigns over rule breaking. the prime minister has apologized while still denying knowledge. after angela merkel. germany's new chancellor has been sworn in. he leads