from berlin. tonight in the yucatán, a record high nuclear numbers cases and the new omicron variant is to blame, the u.k. recording it highest daily number, more than 70 8000 new cases. the prime minister urging people to get boosted in order to slow the spread. also tonight, germany expelled two russian diplomats in a protest over a murder that was

carried out in broad daylight in a berlin park. a german court today says the killer got his orders from the kremlin. and u.s. president joe biden is in kentucky, surveying the damage caused by the devastating tornadoes over the weekend. he has promised support for the residents as they try to rebuild their lives. and electronic music goes home for the holidays. the music genre has been touring europe's cities and has now landed in düsseldorf, germany, home of the pioneering group kr aftwehr. ♪ i'm brent goff. to our viewers watching on pbs in the united states and all around the world, welcome. we begin with the corona virus variant of the

corresponding. today the u.k. recorded its highest number of cases, more than 78,000 this wednesday. that is 10,000 more than the previous record high set back in january with the highly transmissible omicron variant fueling the latest search. a senior british official calling omicron, quote, "probably the most significant threat since the start of this pandemic. this week lawmakers voted to toughen coronavirus measures including introducing covid-19 passes to enter large venues. today prime minister boris johnson defended his handling of the pandemic. pm johnson: since friday when i decided we had to accelerate the booster program in view of the danger of omicron, we have cut the timetable in half. mr. speaker, monday was the biggest vaccination monday in the history of this country, and yesterday was the second biggest

vaccination achievement by the in hs ever, more than 500,000 jabs delivered the campaign continues to grow. i want to thank everybody involved. i want to thank the british public for coming forward to get boosted now. brent: earlier i spoke to a professor at the university college in london who works on covid-19 data. good to have you on the program. we have heard today that this is mu variant omicron is probably the biggest threat in this pandemic. what does that mean? what scenario are you expecting to see in the comingeeks? guest: the problem with this variant is that the first time we ever heard of it was only three weeks ago. it is now 60% of cases in london and likely to be dominant in england within a few days. wherever it is being tracked

across the world, it is doubling every two days. we haven't seen a spread that first. -- a spread that fast. that is the danger is that every two days, the problem gets twice as bad. so you don't have time to wait and see. that is why it could affect a lot of people in a short amount of time. and if any of them need hospital, you could certainly overwhelm the health services. brent: overwhelm the health services. but what about the severity of covid-19 with this new variants? are people getting sicker because of the newariants? guest: we are almost certain that they are not getting sicker because of it. if anything, the indication from south africa are that it is less severe. but don't forget, some of that is because we have more immunity from previous vaccination and previous infection. however, it is not the case that

it protects you completely. we do have people with omicron in the hospital in the u.k., and denmark is also seeing hospitalization at about the same rate as delta. so it is not the same case that it is completely mild. brent: yet we had some reddish lawmakers boarding against the government when it brought new coronavirus restrictions yesterday. do you think getting everyone boosted will be enough? guest: i don't think the new measures will be enough. i think boosting april is incredibly important, because we know that the booster is effective against this variant even if it is not quite as good as it would have been against delta. but it takes a long time. you have to get everyone who is eligible. we are only halfway through that. then it takes a week or two for

the booster to have effect. the problem with omicron rising in the u.k. is that it is happening now. ent: so what are you advising at the government should be doing now? guest: we need drastic measures. at the moment it is doubling every two days. that means by christmas, it will be 30 times worse than what we have now. so i would suggest you have a very short circuit wrecker up until christmas and then allow people to make a safer christmas and reevaluate where you are then. we will have a lot more information by then. but we need to stop transmission now. because it is growing like wildfire. brent: christina power with university college london, we appreciate your insights tonight, thank you. let's look now at some of the other stories making headlines around the world. australia has reopened its orders to vaccinated noncitizens. skilled migrants and foreign students are being allowed in, following nearly two years of a

closed border pandemic policy. arrivals will have to isolate for 72 hours after arrival. footage has emerged of a test liqueur racing past a restaurant in paris last saturday before crashing and killing one person, injuring 20. the off-duty taxi driver told police that he tried to break, but the car accelerated instead. tesla has told the government that there is no sign of a nonhuman error. russian president vladimir putin and his chinese counterpart xi jinping held a video summit. topics from the agenda included increasing tensions with the european union and the united states. this was their second call this year. germany has expelled two russian diplomats after a court determined that the kremlin was behind an assassination in broad daylight in a berlin park. the german court sentenced russian citizen vadim krasikov to life in prison for the 2019

killing of a church in exile, and it said that his orders to kill came straight from the russian government. reporter: a contract killing inboard daylight in a berlin park in 2019. the victim, a chechen exile seeking asylum in germany, was killed with three gunshots in close range. the perpetrator through his weapon into the river and try to escape, but he was caught by police. vadim krasikov has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder, after a trial that lasted more than a year. the court said he was hired by the russian state to, as the judge put it "liquidates someone." >> the defendant is said to have been part of the state's security apparatus, and to have come from germany -- come to germany disguised as a tourist to carry out this murder in a most professional manner, with the support of aides stationed in berlin.

reporter: the reaction from the german government has been prompt. the new foreign minister, annalena baerbock, said the murder was a major obstacle in the relationship between the two countries. >> this murder on behalf of a state, as the court has determined, represents a serious violation of german law and german sovereignty. we have summoned the russian ambassador, and he has been informed that two members of the embassy's diplomatic staff have been declared persona non grata. the russian ambassador in berlin reportedly described the court verdict as politically motivated. there was already friction between russia and the west on so many fronts. this case has surely made things worse. >> it is yet another note to the bilateral relations between germany and russia.

these relations are very tense due to russian behavior, particularly in central europe, due to internal repression and external aggression. this is yet another blow. reporter: according to evidence presented in court, a dim krasikov enter germany using a full set identity but on a genuine russian passport. that and his links to the russian intelligence agency fs helped russian authorities put a clear label on this crime. in the words of the judge, "it was an act of state terrorism." brent: our reporter who covered the trial in berlin says the verdict will likely strain ties between germany and russia. >> relations are in a state of long-lasting crisis, and this is intensified in recent weeks, as we have been hearing. the government is now facing decisions just like other western governments, about what

to do to deter russia from potentially launching an invasion of ukraine, something that the west years may be in the offing at the moment, trying to think of ways of how to deter russia from going ahead with that. now there is a decision facing the government about how to respond to this incident. it will be very interesting to watch how this government deals with that as it is a test not just of its diplomacy, but also of its ability to find a common line. because we have the social demo democrats under olaf scholz will have always tried to have a positive relationship with russia, whereas the greens have always been extremely critical of russia. i think finding the right way ahead is going to be a challenge that angela merkel, somebody who knew russia very well,, didn't succeed at that very well over the years. nobody has found the secret to managing a productive and stable

relationship with vladimir putin. now that is the challenge for germany's new government. brent: richard walker reporting. european union leaders are meeting in wrestles with warnings, like, of renewed russian aggression against the ukraine high on the agenda. joining the meeting are leaders of the soviet republics, including ukraine, all part of the eastern partnership initiative. talks are taking place as tensions between moscow and the west increase over the build-up of russian troops along its border with the ukraine. the e.u. warned russia that an invasion of the ukraine will bring a high cost. our brussels correspondent is on the story for us tonight. good evening to you, barbara. so what are eu leaders expecting from this summit with these neighbors that used to be in russia's direct sphere of influence? guest: that is the question here.

what do these countries one from the european union? and the answer of course is reassurance that the e.u. will engage strongly against this feared intervention of military aggression by russia. what they also want, at least looking at ukraine, georgia and moldova, is to become members of the european union. they seem like stepchildren knocking at the family house and saying, is let us in, now it is christmas. and the family says no, not right now, not a good time. come back next year or even later. . so there is, of course, nothing moving on that front, and that makes it even. these countries what they need or what they really want, to be protected by the e.u., because all these three countries are involved in disputes and military disk with russia. -- military disputes with

russia. the year obama doesn't want to get involved within those conflicts. so it is a very awkward situation. what can europe do for them? they are trying their best. brent: you had a year obama commission president ursula von der leyen, playing the role of the good stepmother. taking unprecedented measures with serious consequences for russia. what would mommy dearest be able to deliver? guest: she can deliver, at best, a big box with shanks than inside. the toughest, the worst, the most massive sanctions we have ever seen. the highest price russia ever had to pay, german chancellor olaf scholz said. but we don't know what is in the box, because they will not tell us. there has to be a moment of surprise. it is christmas, obviously. so what are the sanctions? what could they possibly be?

it is relatively clear. economically they can try to cut off trade with russia as much as possible. they could throw russia out of the international financial system. that is very painful, because then they are cut off from international banking. and the final question is, could they cut off gas imports from russia? that is the $10 million question, because the gas reserves on the european side may last may be till april, and then everything is empty. so everyone would be hoping for mileage in that case and that they go far. brent: barbara as always, thank you. in the united states, u.s. president joe biden touched down in kentucky as consoler in chief. he is seeing firsthand the

devastation caused by a swarm of tornadoes that plowed through the state and the tiny community of mayfield friday night. he has promised that the federal government will do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to help the recovery. dozens of tornadoes ripped through six states in the south and the midwest. kentucky is the hardest hit, with nearly 90 people dead and more than 100 missing. tens of thousands are still without power. rebuilding is beginning slowly as people come to terms with what happened. >> the wounds are still fresh, the pain of raw. it has been four days the tornado left susan's life in ruins, robbing her of her partner of 30 years. >> that was his vehicle. that was his truck. i am just numb. i am just lost. there is no words to say. i called him and talked to him

and i said, i just want to check on you. he said, if i am here, i will talk to you tomorrow. those were his last words. still on my phone. [crying] reporter: the people are struggling to piece together their lives, quite literally blown apart by the storm. a woman sharing this family photo she found stuck to her car in indiana, carried more than 200 miles from its original kentucky home. many more stories like it being shared on social media, of pictures raining down on american streets, like reminders of the lives wrecked by the storm. with more than 100 people still and i comma-for-comma a clear picture is beginning to emerge of those that will never return -- with more than 100 people still unaccounted for, a clear picture iseginning to emerge of those that will never return. >> it ranges from o months 98 years of the kentuckians we have

lost, some not even getting an opportunity to experience this life. reporter: well the search for survivors continues, the herculean task of clearing the debris has begun. governor: it feels pretty good tonight not just be pushing this stuff out of the way but reloading it up and taking it out of town. there is something therapeutic about taking that chaos and distraction and death and getting it out of some of those areas. reporter: for all the devastation, many believe their communities will rise stronger than before. >> we will rebuild with those people. it's not going to be easy, it will not happen tomorrow. if we do an anniversary presentation, we will not be ready like we are today. but i can swear to you that the city of mayfield will survive this. that's the type of people we

are. will surve. reporter: but for now, they will need all the help they can get. brent: the european parliament has awarded its highest honor, the sakharov prize for freedom of thought, to jailed russian opposition activist alexei navalny. russian president vladimir putin's highest profile critic. he has been behind bars, as you see here, since january. his daughter collected the award today on his behalf. reporter: the daughter of alexei navalny, russian president vladimir putin's biggest critic, as representatives of the european parliament honored her father with a standing ovation anthe sakhar prize. valny is the lest recipient of the award, honoring freedom of thought, awarded to protectors of human rights. his daughter addressed the european parliament as she accepted the award on behalf of her jailed father, being more needs to be done to defend those

rights. she also brought a message to her father. >> when i wrote to my dad and asked what exactly do you want me to say an speech from your point? he answered -- say that no one can dare to equate russia to putin's regime. russia is a part of europe, and we strive to become a part of it. we also -- [applause] but we also want europe to strive for itself. to those amazing principles which are at its core. we strive for a europe of ideas, the celebration of human rights, democracy, and integrity, and we don't want europe of chancellors and ministers who dream of getting a job on the board of poutine poutine -- . putin's state owned companies or ceiling on his yet.

reporter: down with the czar, one of navalny's slogans over the years. he has become known as one of the kremlin's fiercest critics, reportedly organizing and taking part in protests across the country. online, his investigations into what he says are corrupt high-ranking politicians, repeatedly went viral. one video about vladimir putin's alleged palace got tens of millions of views on youtube. >> poutine and his group of thieves one lifelong and uncontrolled power. we have reached the level where it is no longer a group of people stealing from the government, but the government itself is an instrument of corruption. navalny remains a divisive figure in russia. a recent poll shows only 14% of russians support him. but outside of russia, he had just received the european union's highest honor.

brent: they are widely considered to be the founders of the electronic music genre. now an exhibit is honoring the german band kraftwerk, and the whole music revolution that they started. after touring some of europe's biggest capitals, the electro expo has landed in the city of dusseldorf, where it all began. ♪ reporter: electro charts the evolution of electronic music. after stops in paris and london, the exhibition has arrived in dusseldorf. the german city is the hometown of kraftwerk, pioneers of the genre, and one of the most influential bands of all time. ♪ >> kraftwerk was the first band to combine the technical

potential of electronic music with the pop and innovative avant-garde approach. that's what makes them so stimulating, successful, and impactful. reporter: the band formed in 1970. their breakthrough came four years later, with autobahn. the album breached top-ten in the u.s. charts. their hometown is still regarded as the cradle of electronic music. legend has it, kraftwerk used to test drive their freshly minted songs while motoring through dsseldorf. musical history was made here at this studio, their creative headquarters until 2009. ♪ >> they regarded their work as a kind of experimentation. they called the studio a laboratory, not a studio. they said there were no

musicians tinkering around, but scientists, or music workers. reporter: that suited the rough working class area between any arcades and strip clubs. it is one of the most sampled bands in history. they laid the groundwork for genres including electro pop and techno. founding member is one of the exhibition's curators. so why not ask his opinion. that's curator explains. -- the co-curator explains. >> the interesting thing about them is they disappear behind their work. what they want people is to notice the work. the robots. that is why he says, "why do i need to turn up if the robots are there?" reporter: a legendary band, that was way ahead of its time, kraftwerk are still playing sold-out venues today. ♪

brent: some football news now. in the bundesliga, bayern munich again make sure they would be top of the table at the halfway mark of the season. this layer scored a hat trick to triumph 5-0 at stuttgart one game left before the midseason break. >> the sprinkling of fans allowed in doing covid-19 restrictions at least brought some christmas cheer. the already depleted bayern had to bring in a substitute, and he soon set up the opening goal in style. robert tangled with anton in the buildup, but the goal stood. jonabry was in the mood, and he netted his second in the second half. bayern munich were on a roll. konabry then made it 3-0. it wouldn't be a bayern

goal fest without this scarring. the pair combined again soon after as lecvandosky equaled the bundesliga record of 42 goals in a year, and didn't even bother celebrating. they, weren't done yet, though it was only fitting that he laid on two assists. the student got goalkeeper, offering him an early christmas -- the stuttgart goalkeeper offering him an early christmas present. after his third, by bayern munich win 5-0. that handful of stuttgart fans might wish they hadn't bothered. brent: you are watching "dw news." a quick reminder of the top story we are following for you. u.k. has recorded its highest number of daily covid-19

infections since the start of the pandemic, more than 78,000 new cases today. health authorities say the omicron variant is behind this surge. the prime minister is urging people to get a booster shot in order to slow the spread of this mu variant. after a short break, i will be back to take you through "the day." stick around. we will be right back. ♪ c ço

tom: the world health organization says the omicron variant of covid-19 has not been detected in more than 70 countries. scientists say it appears to be more transmissible than previous variants. french health authorities report more than 50,000 new covid-19 infections, sending the 70 average to the highest level in 13 months -- seven day average to the highest in 13 months.