for join us in the depths or remain in the shallows. ah, the high school shooting in michigan, 3 students are dead, and 8 people are injured. a 15 year old is under arrest. questions over the new covered strains. the origin, as dutch health officials say, the army kron was detected in the netherlands before it was reported in south africa. we speak to a w, h. o representative in russia about how dangerous this new strain could be. you don't have a logic or not a huge, it's telling us a demand that this is a more deadly virus. there is no place for panic, but there is a place for preparedness, propulsion, and action. we will be forced to create similar sites as a reaction to those who threaten us in this way. and we can do it now because we have successfully tested

a hypersonic missile. president putin says russia has developed a powerful new hypersonic missile in response to a pentagon statement wrapping up tensions with moscow. growing fears over twitters future as a beacon of free speech. as the online giant gets a new boss known for coming out against freedom of expression and the 1st amendment ah, are broadcasting live direct from studios and moscow. this is our to international . i'm john thomas. certainly glad to have you with us. are now 3 students have been killed in 8 more people injured, including a teacher and a school shooting in the state of michigan that happened just before 1 pm local time at oxford high school in a village north of detroit. here's our t's killed mopping. a 15 year old student

appears to have opened fire before then being apprehended. at this point, the shooter is in custody. his weapon has been apprehended. the sheriff's department of oxford county is on the scene. and at this point, we're also seeing local police as well as federal police and others assembling in the area. a medical helicopter was flown to the school to fly. those had been wounded to get the medical attention that they needed. very serious situation right now. it appears to be under control, a lot of questions are being raised. the identity of the 15 year old shooter has not yet been revealed. there's not any, any known motive yet at this point, but the sheriff's department of oxford county has apprehended the shooter. this is no longer an active situation. we spoke to news anchor and commentator john to master about the ongoing problem of gun crimes in america. you start to think about back when, when we went to school, they didn't have metal detectors,

didn't have happened. the things that they have now, and even with all these precautions, somehow things still happen. you know, how did, how did they get them in, in the 1st place? somebody help them? those are all the questions that law enforcement that police are asking. right now . we want your answers for, you know, a few days. i'm sure, maybe a week it, it depends how quickly they can put it all together. but how do you completely stop something like this? and then when you take away weapons to take away guns, you run the danger of how do you protect yourself? and if somebody does get a hold of one, you know, chances are they, they don't have them legally. how do you protect yourself daily? you run the risk of taking, taking weapons away completely. and can you ever really get rid of them? the origins in timing of this latest cove it variant are in question. after dutch health officials said on the crime was detected in the netherlands before it was reported in south africa, it is unclear so far if the infected people had visited africa and how exactly the

new variant appeared in the netherlands. but it could also mean there are many more cases around the world earlier. my colleague kevin owen, got in touch with our correspondence, peter oliver in europe and policy here in south africa. let me this announcement and this new information that's coming forward is leaving well. come to you here in south africa because on the saw people falling in the south african variance and they would say no, it's not the same. and i'll find 2 expert folk songs that they were able to get up to, to be honest not to will help and very much the feeling here in south africa for the last few days following these travel then as the medical staff, because i've actually left by the speakers all concerning what we have is that infection care in south africa have morning suppose in recent days, the last official figure who had also sundays when they were 2800 new cases

and the campaign for 500 hello april. basically at the hospital finishing that, they expect a lot of pressure in the next 2 to 3 weeks. and they also expect moving team tunnels and you pay for why the in the at the same time, you still have thousands of south african, the international federal ban of $70.00. although the latest information we have is that british a way should be operate. and again from tomorrow, but now we have invalid has said that the situation is to it. south africa is its wave. and the ration on the ground, despite the discovery we have in addition to the discovery of this new strain, still remains very warring. how has responded to this new strain, especially call. so this news that actually could have been around a few days maybe up to 11 days earlier. if this news is coming in this from the netherlands is to be believed anglo american and the well, most likely success. so all of shorts as chancellor will be discussing with the

health ministers from germany. 16 states what they're going to do for a national tactic to tackle the current outbreak of cove at 19. well be something about when school's can be closed, also something about curfews as well. be paying close attention to it. however, some of the regional leaders in germany, a saying action needs to be taken immediately to protect our healthcare system. we unfortunately have to shut down the whole country on an even strict basis. a federal emergency break must be decided this week. well, one country that's already in the middle of a lockdown is austria, that is going to run through until at least the end of this week. it could well be extended until the 13th of december. and we've been finding out a little bit more from the austrian government about their proposal that they're going to him, make it mandatory for people to have vaccines from the 1st of february. and anybody

who doesn't go for a vaccine could be eligible for a fine of just over 3000 euro, or spend 4 weeks in jail. we are seeing cases, almost all over the country, all over the continent. we're looking at at present in spain, portugal check republic, italy, belgium, and the netherlands. as i mentioned, frances, looking into 2, at least 2 suspected cases there. and what we're hearing from ursula found a line. the a you commission president is that more action needs to be taken to try and tackle this new variant here. now, in a race against time, the scientists and manufacture need 2 to 3 weeks to have a full picture about the quality of the mutations of this army chron variant. while staying in europe moving outside of the european union, the night in the united kingdom, england has re introduced the wearing of face masks on public transport and in shops as, as a legal requirement. it had been voluntary since the summer and ministers for

health there is saying it's because of this new variant and uncertainty over how it may affect people. we're trying to get that balance in proportion and it is difficult because it's unknown. so we need to buy some time, so our scientists can what with the world's leading scientists to just basically. so think about what that we know it's very transmissible by looking at that the year. but we don't know, you know, whether it was with the vaccine vaccine whack or the other treatments, etc. so the scientists do need some time for that. well, that's how it looks across europe right now would be keeping a keen eye to see on what news develops either with from the netherlands with regards to the announcement that this omicron variant may have been present here for much longer. also watching what's going to come out from here in berlin, where angle immaculate german chancellor meeting with regional leaders as they try to establish a new national protocol for it. when it comes to trying to tackle these covert outbreak. nations are now applying their own new measures to tackle the spread of

the virus australia and some european countries have suspended flights to and from south africa and neighboring states, while others have banned everybody except their own nationals arriving from southern africa. however, israel and japan, well they have gone a step further and impose a complete ban. japanese prime minister says it is crucial to avoid a worst case scenario. while studies continue into the new strain, and it seems he's got the people way of their backing backed home. i am off, i'm from a rural area and i am very worried doing. my wife is also very worried. wondering what tokyo residents to thinking about the new variant does, what are the you know? so i feel relieved now that prime minister casita announced very strict border measures. it had to feel it will do it. i think it was good that she, that to the border measures, they're swiftly and on top of that i want team to prepare well for things like hospital beds and similar issues. i'm scared because older people like us are

a bit too relaxed. now, lou criminals is for sure, it's better not to allow people who might be infected to enter japan, because the situation in japan is pretty stable. now. it's initial feeling. right now, scientists are rushing to adapt existing vaccines to fight the new strain which is yet to be fully studied. and the pressure is on as the world health organizations, his arm across potentially poses a very high risk. globally, w h o representative in russia says, progress is being made in understanding the strain, but there is more work to be done. well, a mutation shows a number of i would say change is a number of mutations that we can relate to something either to previous knowledge . for example, the buyer. this maryann has mutations many more mutations on the spike protein. it is actually this the needle that the virus is using to getting to the salad make us

infected to actually cause infection to spread further. 2 and this is why because it has many more and other versus other variance, each has immediately come into concert. so i think has scientific knowledge, but we don't have a logical knowledge. it's telling us at the moment that this is a more deadly virus. what we know from south africa is that maybe young people and this is where the cluster was detected. and we do know that callie's been young. people is lighter. we do not have reports and he's no man that is causing more severe disease or that it is more lee. so this is not something that we should speculate off. we really need a bit more time. and this is why they have said that there is no place for panic, but there is place for preparedness, proportion, and action. as the new code strain causes alarm globally, vaccine supplies are in the spotlight. nursing unions from 28 countries wanted to

get rid of patents for chronic virus jobs so that they can be legally made by any qualified manufacturer. the group is looking for you and backing, saying that poorer countries lack of the shots because they are being hoarded by the wealthy countries where they are produced, says the vaccine imbalance could lead to even more death. the direct consequences of the failure to distribute vaccines and treatments equitably to the vast majority of people of low and moderate income countries could likely fir the transmission of coven 19 further mass illness and large numbers of fatalities. in those countries. they should be reason enough to address the crisis of global vaccine apartheid. well, with on the cross spreading, the united kingdom is back in the spotlight for its handling of the pandemic. this time is nurses unions in 28 different countries are accusing. richard nations of

essentially costing lives worldwide and even of creating a vaccine apartheid system. now essentially, what they're doing is taking their complaint directly to the united nations. basically, this is all about many rich countries, including the u. k and the e u. they're refusing to barge on rules, particularly regarding intellectual property rights for rich and nations. have secured 7000000000 doses of the vaccine in comparison to the low income nations, only having around 300000000 doses. now these nurses unions are really accusing rich nations of violating patients rights. instead of supporting this waiver, certain governments or protecting the prophets of big pharmaceutical companies at the expense of public health. these countries have violated our rights and the rights of our patients and cause the loss of countless lives of nurses and other caregivers. and those we have cared for. well, nurses unions in 20 different countries have now filed an appeal with the united

nation, saying that the global gap between rich and poor is only just exacerbated with the pandemic. and is now becoming blindly obvious. not only that, what they all he was at the transmission of cove it in developing nations, increases the risks of new variance emerging. now, a waiver on all of these provisions for vaccines would then allow them to be made more widely and then distributed more widely as well. it will improve the global distribution of the vaccines. now, even the world health organization has weight. and i to this debate saying that there needs to be a cap on how much of a country is vaccinated. no more vaccines should go to countries that have already vaccinated more than 40 percent of their population until kovacs has the vaccines. it needs to help other countries get that to well, the pandemic slogan has long been, no one is safe till everybody is safe. but really and truly it doesn't seem to be

the case for many people arguing against the pharmaceutical companies that arguably operating profit for public health. and while there has been a global kovacs initiative, have these global initiatives really be in that successful, almost 2 years on now? from the beginning of the pandemic, and arguably, we're back in the eye of the storm. the feeling really is now that these rich countries are arguably having quite a selfish mindset and if they continue to do so well, we just go round and round in circles and go back to square one. with these new variants emerging, vladimir putin has announced that russia has developed a powerful new hypersonic weapon in response to a pentagon statement, escalating tensions with the kremlin. here's our ts corresponded from on coastal while answering questions from the participants of the russia calling economic of forum. vladimir putin

a question nato's potential weapons placement in eastern europe. and he warned of the consequences that may follow a russian president followed up by saying that the country will soon have mocked 9 hypersonic weapons. and he did so in response to a, one of the questions about the so called red lines in ukraine and nato steps. that led to the current tensions between moscow and the western military alliance eye. if miss al sites appear on the territory of ukraine than the flight time of missiles to moscow will be 7 to 10 minutes. and the case of hypersonic weapons 5 minutes. imagine that and what else can we do? we will be forced to create similar sites as a reaction to those who threaten us in this way. and we can do it now because we have successfully tested a hypersonic missile. and at the beginning of the year, we will already have new c based missiles in service, which can travel, it speeds up to mach 9. the flight time for these missiles will also be 5 minutes.

why are we doing all this? creating such threats for us is the red line, but i hope it doesn't come to that. i hope that common sense and the joint responsibility for all countries and for the well community will prevail go water. the so called a russian aggression seems to be dominating the hearts and minds of western politicians and subsequently the people as well. now, media headlines claimed that ukraine is bracing for an imminent attack while the u . s. sends and nato officials are pushing the agenda even further saying that russia will face consequences once it's at once that facts ukraine. now this is just a, one of their statements less heavily on us. and i have stated several times now there will be a high rise, a high price to pay for russia if that once again use force again in the front sovereign nation, ukraine and also. busy over the years also increased our military presence in this

region, just to make sure that all our laws are totally defended, unprotected the instant against the russian aggressive actions. the global posture of you strengthens the combat, credible deterrent against russian aggression in europe, and enables nato forces to operate more effectively. we continue to watch with great concern movements by russian military units and near the ukraine border. i obviously can't speak to their but their intentions, but we continue to believe that any escal latoria aggressive actions would be a great concern not only to the united states and i have, but hello to our allies and partners there on the european continent. meanwhile, russian defense ministry continues to record nato forces, movements and near its borders. now those includes at entries of michelle equipped worships flights of americans, strategic warplanes that had become more and more frequent. recently,

also large scale exercises including unscheduled ones, are being conducted. moscow also says that the united states rehearsed nuclear strikes against russia in november. now, the pentagon responded to that by saying that very drills were announced publicly at the time, and that they all are here to international protocols. meanwhile, here are the economic forum earlier and she's there. russian president questioned why nato felt the need to expand in eastern europe with its anti missile, assist them saying that their relationship was almost idyllic. back in the mid ninety's, former un weapons inspector, scott ritter told us he thinks nato is playing a very dangerous game. there's nothing about what nato is doing right now. that makes any sense whatsoever. at the end of the day, they're only playing to russian strengths. it's a very dangerous game because as president buddhist said,

of russia has read lines in that these red lines aren't just figurative. they're real. and there will be real consequences if these red lines continue to be violated. as far as anybody can tell, is not prepared to invade ukraine unprovoked. if you train attacks or otherwise provokes russia, russia will respond. but the notion of russia just starting a war of aggression against ukraine, out of the blue, is ludicrous, and nato knows this. we need to put us in the perspective of where nato and the u. s. is right now, under the trump administration, the relationship between the united states, nato, was a very strange one, and it didn't get any better under biden. and nato right now is looking for relevance and looking to reassemble a semblance of, of substance. they can pick the only target they have right now, which is russia, and there's nothing nato can do to stand up to it. so why is natal provoking russia? it simply doesn't make any sense just a day, inter his new job as it twitters in new c e. o and prague are growing,

is already ruffling feathers. there are fears of more content comp downs and the social network because of his past remarks about not prioritizing freedom of speech or his english donna has more. the 1st thing to know about twitter is new c o. he may be new as well. the chief executive officer, but his not a new face in the company, per se. this 37 year old man of well indian descent, he joined twitter all the way back in 2011 as chief technology officer. so he has already a long, long history of being an executive within the company has been involved with all the pretty much all the main strategic initiatives with twitter. so it hardly comes as a surprise that this person is well, he is sharing the general line behind that the twitter has been taking over the past few years that the, well, twitter is bigger than, you know, freedom of speech that twitter has its own understanding of this term and that it's

their backyard and they are, you know, they're in their right to dictate the rules. his are a statement of from the last year that came back to haunt him. now have a listen. oh is not too big, but 1st amendment, but our role is to serve a heavy bully. conversation focused less on thinking about speech, but thinking about how the dance of change. so right now we are still to see his, the 1st moves that he makes because everybody is anticipating what to expect from him. and some pundits have been arguing or that well he won't bring the will needed change to twitter needed, especially by the investors. because there are, they were growing increasingly unhappy with jack doors. he and his handling of all these candles, you know, around twitter. there's been a lot of controversy. a lot of people, of course defending twitter. a lot of people well being on the other side of the fence on the other side of the barricades. but one thing a so far, oh, well, one thing that we are seeing so far that there are no indications that twitter will

abandon their policy of, you know, giving some people the spotlight and taking the spotlight from others and doing it at their own will even though the company hasn't always been like this, i mean compare the statement of frog or wall that twitter is not about the 1st amendment, and that it will not be hampden o hindered by it with something that former twitter seo, for example, on decker castillo, said it to one of our core values is respect and defend the user's voice. and we're the free speech wing of the free speech party. we believe our purpose is to serve the public conversation and that does take a stand, sir. i'm freedom of expression and defending freedom of expression as a fundamental human rights. so braga wall also has experience serve with microsoft with a t and t, so he is no stranger to the broader, you know, silicon valley and you know, the high tech scene. so we'll have to see what he will bring to the table and

whether or not the concern of an oven. vestos is something he will be able to deal with. 2 people have died and another 18 were injured in western niger after french troops opened fire on protesters after a french convoy entered the country from burkina faso vehicles and trucks across the border on friday after they became blocked in burkina faso over for a week by demonstrators, protestors are furious at france's military presence in the country and its failure to stop violence by islam mister militants. in this french military video, you can see protestors attacking the convoy with sticks and french soldiers firing their weapons too. as they claim warren protesters away, a french army colonel told r t that local attitudes towards the troops are unfair dismissal self to the benefits assume. of course these were anti french demonstrations. but when we carry

out an operation in marley on the year, we did not have any problems with the local population wherewith were received the protests we have seen or driven primarily by the challenges local residents face security concerns, as they may feel insufficiently protected. the demonstration against the french military convoy happened immediately after the attack on the nearby military police post, and they simply made the scapegoats of the french soldiers and army. first and foremost, we are not leaving this the hell. we're staying in the region. in 2022, they'll be 3000 french soldiers who fight on terror groups. it was decided to use the french military potential, namely to transfer 3 military bases in raleigh to the maryan armed forces. we will stay in nija and chad. there is no need to compare what's happened in afghanistan with what is happening in the saw how stay in the style. and we will stand by also haley and come result to fight on terra grooms. of such events have been occurring as discontent. grows with france in its former colonies,

several 1000 french troops were deployed in this i held back in 2013 as part of a military operation against terror groups. though, in the summer, a manual micron announced the reduction of the military contingent there. we spoke to african affairs analyst lawrence k. freeman, on what is causing discontent among locals. i think the general view is that the french want to keep their colonial connections. i, again, if you look at the c for which is the currency used in west african francophone countries, it's controlled by paris banks. i think the french have not given up their colonial aspirations. and for that reason they are extremely disliked. and often haiti by these countries be great. people suspect that the french are still involved in this kind of colonial control. we're attempt attempting colonial control the country each. each component to reducing the the capabilities of each

stream. he's economic. well, if you give people jobs, it won't be going over to the terrorist make money and therefore, i don't see the situation is going to improve. as long as these are the only policies, limited military interventions are not going to change the situation. my french right wing tv pendant eric zamora has announced his candidacy for next year's presidential election. but despite his popularity, public scandals have hurt his ratings. as archie shaw davinsky reports now from pears, the would be bad boy of french politics has announced t's a mission. the running to become the next president of frogs. this is eric simile, who's a highly divisive figure here in the country. but it's also in the last few months showing that who could gain a substantial following and really shake up this race. now he's setting out why,

who should lead france in this no more time to reform friends? it's time to save it. that's why i've decided to run for president. saw children and grandchildren will not face barbarity. so our daughters will not be forced to wear a head job, and our sons will not be forced into submission. so we can pass to them the same fronts that we knew and that we inherited from ancestors feel a slip of what he does. a war has twice been convicted of inciting, racial hatred. and he's currently awaiting a verdict over a 3rd allegation, he has been clear that he believes white french people will be replaced by norm won't known. you repeat in immigrants as a moore has also spoken out against islam, saying that it threatens frances values and has said immigrants new to assimilate to the values of the french republic, suggesting that names like mohammed would be banned under his leadership. now,

the pun, dates, and right to has spent the last few months unofficially campaigning, as he has been promoting his latest book. his pre candidate show campaign has been hampered by some events being canceled abroad as he tried to reach out to french ex pats. his events which draw must support, particularly here in france. old. so jo, protests have, i'm, you know, never to have given attention to. i don't even want to pronounce his name, who has said such outrageous things. just an acceptable even if okay, where in a country of freedom where everyone has the right to express their opinion. but to give so much visibility to one person like that is shameful. premier pasco has, we hope mr. zima will clean things up a bit. the problem is that it's been 30 years 40 years that the state has been demobilized from many issues. and we need to see clearly what we need to re launch

the country. i think the others won't have the courage to do it all yourself. that's well today we see that despite our differences, we all have the same problem in our daily lives. that is why we are all gathered today to say no to this to viciousness, the country, they call them a racist, but it's not true. he's no more racist than i am. i am of lebanese origin, and i'm here and i've integrated, well, yes. now many have also describes him more as bull intellectual, donald trump, and he has had a popular right in the polls so far. at one point, even before declaring his candidacy poles showed that he could make a 2nd cut to the round of voting, that will determine he's president and not to shaken up many on the political scene, which is very traditional. hey, i seen it still isn't quite certain as to who will be on the ballot paper next year . current president macro and still haven't officially thrown his hat in the ring,

while the republicans who all that traditional party of the right are still.