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.

good evening, the french health authorities have reported more than 65,000 new covid-19 infections over the last 24 hours. the 70 rolling average of new infections is now above the 50,000 mark. that is the highest level since november of last year. the world health organization says the omicron variant of covid-19 has not been detected in more than 70 countries across the globe. scientists suspect that omicron is or. -- transmissible that previous variants. -- more transmissible than

previous variants. they are starting to see some patterns. >> it is the first major real-world study on omicron and the results are out. might cause milder symptoms but it is still highly contagious. research by a south african health insurer found the pfizer vaccine was only 30% effective in preventing infection. but a double job rose the effectiveness to 80%. >> you may not be protected from infection but you are protected very reasonably against more severe disease. >> experts say the milder cases

might be due to a number of factors. this could allow for a breeding ground of even more variants. >> the eu public-health body is warning that it is very likely that the new variant will be dominant across europe by early next year. that will lead to a growing number of hospital admissions and deaths. we are starting to see some fractures across the eu. it does look disturbingly

like a return to the lack of coordination we saw at t beginning of this pandemic. since june of this year, the european commission creed this vaccination database. these qr codes. this is without having to do any covid test. this was an agreement that the countries came to in the early part of the summer, saying that eu servants who were vaccinated were not have to take a covid test. in the last couple of days, italy and greece have said they will start requiring negative tests for travelers. the european commission is not happy about this. they say this violates the spirit of the agreement that was reached earlier this year.

so as not to cause the same travel disruptions we saw last year. tomorrow, eu prime minister's will be here. the big question is whether italy and greece are going to come under fire for doing this. everything i am hearing today is they will not be getting this. the general mood is very -- people are concerned about the omicron variant. this suggests that two doses of the vaccine may not be very effective in stopping spread of the virus even though it may still be good about keeping people out of hospitals. that would mean somebody being vaccinated would not be a guarantee that they are not taking the virus into the country. it does look like other countries are probably going to llow on into italy and greece.

there are rumors that france may take the same decision on friday. >> thank you for bringing us up to speed. thanks a lot. the german chancellor says that they will take a tough stance. they were suspected of making death threats against the regional leader. >> germany is drawing the line on radical anti-vaxxers. police carried out armed raids located in the eastern state of saxony. they targeted six people. the raids may have confirmed the suspicions.

the crackdown was organized after an investigation by the broadcast was released. members of the group spoke of killing michael chrisman. the region has the lowest inoculation rates in the country. he insists he will not be intimidated. the raids come after opponents to covid rules staged protests in recent weeks. this as germany grapples with a fourth wave. they have tightened restrictions on the unvaccinated. in spite of the backlash, --

security experts have radical tendencies. >> u.s. president joe biden was in the state of kentucky which was ravaged by a cluster of devastating tornadoes. the state governor says he expects more victims to be found. you can see the latest pictures of president biden. president biden is visiting the towns of mayfield and dawson springs. you can see the president surrounded by some of the devastation left behind.

after more than nine months of negotiations, the leaders of the four parties in the new government of the netherlands have presented their text of the coalition. the coalition delta parliament and it is being built as a recovery government. the formation of the new coalition hands prime minister margarita fourth term in office. >> mark rutte is set to become prime minister again. here is the conservative party that will be really with the christian democrats and the christian union. the 50 page report they set out today has ambitious climate change targets. they say they want to reduce co2 emissions by almost 60% by 2030.

the netherlands has been one of the countries that have most mis-to the targets. they are also investing in education and they want to increase the enema wage. a lot of money being spent. viewers might remember that the reason the government fell almost a year ago now is due to a large child benefit scandal. childcare will become almost free in a bid to address that issue. the largest formation in history coming to a close. nine months since elections were held, there has been a lot of criticism about helen that took. but we are not there yet. the dutch prime minister wil be

presenting his full team in about three weeks time. tom: malta has given the green light to a new law legalizing cannabis. it would be legal for anyone aged 18 or older to possess a limited quality -- quantity of the drug for personal use. the government in germany is taking steps to legalize marijuana for recreational use. they said is a plan that would generate plenty of tax revenue for the government. >> they are impatient for the first harvest. this company makes medical marijuana. it holds one of only three production licenses in germany and is now gearing up to expand into a vastly big market -- bigger rock in place. set up in a former slaughterhouse, the couple he will produce an .5 tons next

year. once recreational marijuana gets the government go ahead, it is ready to produce six times that amount. >> we are among the biggest producers in germany. we are certain to become the leaders in germany and europe. >> the demand is there. germans are some of the biggest consumers of marijuana in europe. people by an estimated 400 tons each year on the black market. making it all legal is a matter of public health according to the german cannabis association. >> for a while, we noticed a worrying trend of black markets. the marijuana buds are in wrist with significant cap noise but they could have lethal psychoactive substances unlike cannabis. it could be far more addictive. in a regulated market, all this can be avoided.

>> according to a study commissioned by the association, the german government could win big. some 4.7 billion euros in extra tax revenue and savings. the police union is not convinced the black market will disappear. >> if we legalize cannabis, it would only be for adults. what happens with minors? where will they go? supporters say it will allows to control the quality of the products but that means it will be more expensive so a good number of consumers will still go to a dealer. >> in germany, the sale of cannabis will only take place in specialized shops. the trial will last for four years to see what the effects are. >> time for a check of what is happening in the world of sports. simon is here. let's look at some of the worrying news about the

confederation of african football. >> this dealt a really heavy blow after the european club association sent a letter to fifa threatening not to release african players for the biggest tournament on the continent. they have expressed concerns about the health and safety protocols in place while also saying that due to the quarantine time for returning players, they believe this will be too disruptive to the respective seasons of ropean clubs. new rules introduced by fifa during the pandemic do stipulate that clubs are allowed to stop players from traveling if they are in a quarantine. that is higher than five days. this later does add fuel to the fire of potential cancellation of events but it is true there are yet to be serious protocols put into place. >> the european clubs sounded

very concerned. is that purely about covid? >> on paper, yes. but they typically have the top african players like level pool have always been reluctant toty release players because of -- because it is too disruptive to their seasons. can you imagine livable playing for two months without them -- liverpool playing without them for months? >> thank you very much. that was our sports editor. that is it from us. i will be back shortly with more news.

>> you have to be the strangest poker player i have ever met. >> you have no idea. >> welcome to the weekly film show. as the holiday season is upon us, two of the biggest blockbusters are being released. spider-man no way home and matrix resurrections. >> peter parker is back on the big screen for an ambitious equal. spider-man no way home is the ninth feature-length installment about the superhero. this time starring tom holland. >> i am excited for the fans.

they will be disappointed. we have willem defoe, apple -- alford malina, jamie foxx reprising their roles coming back to the screen, it is very exciting. zendaya reprises her role of mj. >> if there is anything i learned from this film, it is that you have to just let it be. certain things can't be undone. but spider-man always tries because he is always putting other people for himself and that is what makes him the best superhero in my eyes. >> in no way home, parker asks dr. strange played by benedicts cumberbatch to make his identity of spider-man a secret again with magic except the spell backfires and opens up audible universes, leading to a grand battle with some familiar villains. the film is already shattering

records. in 24 hours, it sold over 150,000 advanced tickets in the united kingdom alone. another end of your blockbuster and long-awaited sink -- sequel is nature's rev -- great -- matrix resurrections. the matrix resurrections inteeaves the previous films that preceded it. the story takes place 20 years after the maix revolutions released in 2003. ne-yo played by kianaeeves is living a normal life in san francisco but soon gets requited with trinity. the fourth installment of the sci-fi saga will hit cinemas on 2022 -- in december.

>> are you on the edge of your teen about these films? >> the french pronounce it speederman. that always sound like something was going too fast. i think that tom holland is incredibly talented and i am very much looking forward to him playing fred astaire in an upcoming biopic. a good dancer. as for the matrix, the plots fit into what the best science fiction does. that is to comment on our lives and predicaments. i have my fingers crossed in this dimension and any other dimensions we end up in. >> the power of the dog and belfast lead the golden globes nominations.

the foreign debt -- the hollywood foreign press has come under fire for its lack of diversity. they recently admitted six black members. we found out what happens when profits don't necessarily profit him at all. >> he made the instant classic - "a separation" about what a couple has to go to to -- go through to placate the reigning authorities. he has been making films for 20 years now. that was the first iranian films ever win the best international feature film. french producers and distributor's have been completely loyal to him ever since.

it takes an incredible amount of money and resources to make a spider-man or matrix movie. what i love is riveting stories with relatively modest means and excellent actors. that is the case here. most of us won't ever end up hanging upside down from a building or having the obligation to save the known world weighing on our shoulders but we could end up in a situation not that dissimilar. the protagonist thinks he may be able to get out of debtors prison and what happens when an unknown person and up in his possession. -- purse ends up in his possession. >> [video plays]

>> brahim -- raheem does not really have the strategies to deal with this. >> if grinning was a strategy. at first, he wants to return the money to its rightful owner but when he acts on that impulse, he compulsively anticipates that this is a pr opportunity for someone with power over his future. he just wants to use his precious two days of freedom to pay off part of his debt and find a way to be with his girlfriend. let's say that society swoops in

and, case matters. the building box -- blocks of the narrative are very basic. but there are several letters of work percolating, simmering, sometimes breathless, sometimes ambivalent. >> director paul schrader makes comments about this. can you tell us about the card counter discount in france? >> movies about enigmatic loners often appeal to me. you usually get more animatic -- you rely get more enigmatic than william tell. he is a card counter that was just enough to cover the expenses of his pared down lifestyle. he shows discipline. each card gate -- game is

different. no matter how needlessly odd his behavior is at first, the phone rewards us. i don't think it is hyperbole to say that i love this movie. it is a sense -- it is suspenseful storytelling for grown-ups. the stakes are real. william is trying to survive. >> why don't we take a look at the sober yet unnerving atmosphere of the card counter. >> it is all about waiting. then something happens. >> this is where all the good stuff happens. >> they made you the fall guy? >> you have been around him, he is a mystery. i don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. >> you gather there is something

unpleasant there. >> he had lots of time to learn how to count cards well serving a prison sentence. william takes a young man under his wing and i guess you could call those william tell overture's and try to dwell in relative peace on the same planet as a shifty character played by willem defoe. his retribution a good idea -- i s retribution a good idea? this is his 19th feature film and paul schrader is still going strong. we are the lucky beneficiaries of his talent. >> lots of talent there. this is our last film show of the year and we would like to send you out singing thanks to the film sing 2.

it has so many voice counts including scholar johansson, matthew mcconaughey, pharrell williams. here are some of them speaking on the red carpet at the los angeles premier. >> he had a call with me to talk about this line who lost his roar and he said what would you rather voice? i said grief. i went all irish on him. i feel that music saved my life. my smallest guy, nine years old, he brought his friends. he gets to show off and he is really excited. >> this is a unique experience at this time of year. >> it certainly is. they will be celebrating 90 years in business.

dancing fountains extravaganza near its auditorium that has to be seen to be believed. my cheeks and up sore from grinning year to year as plumes of water leap onto the stage before the movie starts. this is a jukebox musical. these critters are putting on a show. a show that has been delayed for a full year for us due to covid 19 but animation does not suffer too much from not hitting the big screen when originally planned. if you want to be wowed by a very big screen, laser lights, dancing fountains and a soap bubble finale. >> i remember that as a kid from so many disney openings. we will leave you with some where the snippets of sing two. we are also on twitter, facebook and instagram so give us a

follow. there is more news coming up on france 24 after this. >> you will never be great, johnny. ♪ >> france 24, every art form. quickço

12/15/21 12/15/21 [captioning made possible amy: from new york, this is democracy now! >> we are under siege here at the capitol. they have breached the capitol. protesters are literally storming the capitol, breaking windows, rushing in. is trump going to say something? amy: house lawmakers site text messages sent by republican lawmakers and others to president trump's chief of staff mark meadows on january 6 as they vote to hold him in contempt of congress.