april has been a horrible month for the world the coronavirus pandemic peaked in many places but not before claiming tens of thousands of lives as we bid good riddance to april many places are flattening the curb and lifting lockdowns and there may be a new treatment from an old drug tonight predictions for me there will be no vatsim probably no cure and we will need just as much patience as ever before berlin this is the day. of the few this virus is in our country it will be here for months. to see if we have succeeded in putting the brakes on the spread of the fibers and that has to be our main focus. to want to rip it up to great is estimated at 0.76 this

means that according to these calculations on average one infected person now affects less than one other or introduce you to presume. it's essential that we stay disciplined that we keep our distance and follow hygiene rules and. anyone who has a cute respiratory symptoms should be tested for the virus because the capacities are that they should be used. also coming up tonight police raids across the country germany bans the islamist group hezbollah and labels it a terrorist organization and members of these pati and nothing more than despicable israel hate is an anti semites people who not only call into question its rails right to exist but also openly call for its destruction of.

to our viewers on p.b.s. in the united states and all around the world welcome we begin the day ending april counting what we've lost and counting what we've saved one month ago on the last day of march there were 857000 confirmed cases globally of covert 19 the disease caused by the new coronavirus today on this last day of april that number stands at almost 3000000 250000 april was without a doubt a month that belong to the pandemic to date more than 230000 people have died from the virus but there are inspiring numbers reflected in the tragic ones more than 1000000 people have fully recovered since the pandemic began may will most likely be a month in which the negatives and the positives both continue to grow however in more cities in countries around the world we are seeing increasing efforts at returning

to some semblance of normality you can call them baby steps our 1st report walks us through the latest here in germany. chancellor angela merkel defended a step by step approach as she outlined details of the latest easing of restrictions in germany following a virtual meeting with the 16 state premiers it's been the 5th i'm strongly convinced we can best work in the interest of business but also of social contacts if we focus on taking small steps towards allowing more contacts but if we don't have to take steps back and that's why we have to stay care for and have to adhere to measures of hygiene. under the new rules religious gatherings are allowed again provided hygiene and distancing requirements are met in churches synagogues and mosques visits to zoos museums and memorials will also be possible again under the same requirements intensive care units and hospitals will start receiving non-code

that 1000 patients again and playgrounds can reopen as early as this week. but 2 decisions were postponed for now one should gemini's blunder sleekest soccer league resume its season with games behind closed doors and 2 just which requirements need to be met before schools and child cafe still it can reopen gradually. said it was important to get a clear idea of the impact of the fast steps to ease the lockdown 2 weeks ago before deciding on the next steps and that will happen next wednesday. we'll listen to the scientists follow the data we have heard those commands ever since the pandemic began and they became more relevant as lock downs were imposed and entire economies were shut down as consensus here in germany over restrictions appears to be waning fresh appeals to people and policy makers to stay with the science listen

to what the head of germany's center for disease control and prevention the robert koch institute said today this is for us this virus is in our country it will be in our country for months that's why we have to live for months in this so-called new normality where we have to make sure that the virus has this all chance as possible as spreading further. and that will continue to be the case as things stand at the moment. until we either have a vaccine that will give us the immunity we need when we are vaccinated and have a good vaccine a well we have better medicines that will allow us to treat the infected better faster. and my 1st guest tonight is one of the u.s. is leading epidemiologist dr jennifer horney is professor in founding director of the epidemiology program at the university of delaware she has trained rapid response teams for outbreaks including the 2009 swine flu pandemic dr warning it's

good to have you on the day this is your 1st time here we're happy to have you here i'd like to get your take on the ebola draw rem to severe yesterday the top infectious disease expert in the u.s. dr revived hopes of using the drug to treat cope with 19 take a listen to what he said although with 31 percent improvement doesn't seem like a knock out 100 percent it is a very important proof of concept because what it is proven is that a drug can block this virus so after dark it found spoke the stock market jumped and it was easy to think that we have a new wonder medicine here against the virus so maybe if you could give us a reality check please what is the reality about this medication. so i think this is

a really important finding because to date we've had no pharmaceutical interventions for coping 19 so we've been relying on the type of individual and community level non-farm ical suitable interventions like social distancing at stay at home to control transmission and so to put this in context these trials showed a recovery time reduced from about 15 days to 11 days so that's why this 30 percent improvement comes as a comparison tamiflu which are that we use a lot if you file for seasonal influenza when given in the 1st 48 hours of infection it typically reduces our recovery time by one day the simple 7 to 10 day course of infection so older adults it might be a little more effective but this is important because i've got high risk groups so this reduction of about a 3rd seems pretty good in comparison with what we're usually expecting from an antiviral ok well from a possible treatment to a possible vaccine one day here what do you make of reports this week that researchers at oxford who were already working on

a different corona virus and have now switched to the new cloned a virus they hope to have a vaccine by the end of september the end of september it is that too good to be true. god i think that it probably is if we're talking about a vaccine that would be widely available so a couple of copy outs are not the capacity to ramp up production is going to be severely limited even if a vaccine was available by the fall it would only be available for use among highly targeted groups of high risk patients and i think we also need to consider what the uptake would be on a novel vaccine so even though the centers for disease control and prevention in the u.s. recommend seasonal flu vaccine for all americans over 6 months of age the typical population coverage is less than 50 percent even though the science is clear the thing reduces hospitalization and death so if we have a vaccine available how many doses will we have and what was the the accepted. and

you know we've we hear time and time again it's all about testing testing and testing there's been praise for self korea taiwan new zealand and germany for rolling out massive testing early on that is not the case in the united states why are we about to start the month of may with doctors across america still crying out for more tests. i honestly do not know why our testing in the us has been such a mess i'm not an expert in the supply chain issues that just certainly impacted the availability of the test kits and reagent needed and i was the samples but our strategy remains an adequate because we're not getting the task down to the lower levels of the state and local level which is where the contact with the populations that are at high risk are so much of what's needed to move forward with the plans that we have been place now for relaxing social distancing relies on relatively

untested diagnostic technologies and in contrast to the countries you mentioned that have been more successful in rolling out mass testing testing in the us remains highly decentralized responsibility of the state yeah ok you know that's a very good point to bring out the virus calls and the pandemic now is thought to have originated in bats but u.s. intelligence has confirmed that it is investigating the possibility of the virus having leaked from a lab in blue hunch china now if that were to be proven true would it have any impact on how we are reacting and dealing with this pandemic does it matter. so 1st of all i don't think that it's true i think that the genetic analysis is shown that pretty clearly and it's far far more likely that this is the traditional crossover of the virus from an animal to human host i think the difference here is

that opposed to 2005 when we had the h 5 n one pandemic strain it was highly inefficient transmission person to person so this is the other disease but inefficient it transmission then when we had pandemic influenza in 2009 it was efficient person to person transmission that the infection was not very severe and so we just hit the jackpot here with a virus that's very serious and highly transmissible and i think that this is just something that we should expect to happen in crossovers given the closeness our global world we've heard that many times for many scientists saying that we're encroaching on perhaps places we shouldn't be i know that your research focuses on the impacts of natural disasters on public health do you classify a virus jumping species as what we've got right now as causing it and then calls in a pandemic do you classify that as a natural disaster or would you say that's just

a natural occurrence. but i would say that it's not so much that the virus be seen but that we have a combination i mentioned before of a disease that very easily transmitted including by people who are 8 and magic operating in this environment of extreme global connectivity pandemic and that is after and that our main concern at this point was that we would exceed our local capacity to respond. but i think we need to remember that even prior to 2001 our public appearance and responses were considering pandemic as a potential disaster we need to prepare for the few 1008. 100 not been rebuilt and the rather the u.p.a. endemic we faced with h one n one. have not impacted the u.s. in a meaningful way you know and i think you bring a good point there that at the end of the day we pay when we don't prepare for what

is coming dr jennifer a warning epidemiologist at the university of delaware dr murray it's good to have you on the show we appreciate your time and your insights tonight thank you thank you. well the police raids began early this morning after the decision had been made here in berlin the german government has banned the iran backed hezbollah group and at the same time declared it a terrorist organization the decision puts germany on the same page with the united states and israel the military wing of the group was banned in the european union 7 years ago hezbollah is a shiite military and political group based in lebanon on just before dawn police here in berlin and in other german cities raided properties connected to suspected hezbollah supporters. early morning ribs with dozens of police and special forces in cities across germany police searched mosques associations and

private residences collecting evidence to be used for investigations into hezbollah's activities. and searching for locations here in berlin annoyed following the ban on his blog the aim is to find out if there's a connection between these locations and hezbollah the organization which is now outlawed. hezbollah doesn't have an official presence in germany but a network of associations is thought to provide financial support and deliver propaganda for the group while the group's military arm is classified as a terrorist organization in the entire you most countries haven't banned its political wing on thursday germany moved to do just that. it said it could not tolerate hezbollah's anti israel positions. these are party members of these potty and nothing more than despicable israel hate is an anti

semites people who not only call into question his right to exist but also openly colfer its destruction of. questions regarding hezbollah's operations in germany aren't new in december the in the saga adopted a motion urging the government to outlaw all of hezbollah's activities in the country. hezbollah supporters have repeatedly brandished the group's flag and used anti israeli slogans at rallies the ban now allows oath already said outlaw the use of hezbollah symbols at gatherings and on publications and the group's acis can now be confiscated. israel and the u.s. have welcomed germany's move to completely outlaw hezbollah the no hope that other european countries will follow suit. or we have complete coverage of today's decision by germany i'm joined tonight by hong schindler he is with the counter

extremism project in new york in berlin and he spent time in iran is the security liaison at the german embassy in tehran and joining me tonight from beirut in lebanon is correspondent baso a reading to both of you gentlemen welcome but also let me start with you is based in lebanon it is in the parliament it is a force to be reckoned with in the country has there been any reaction to germany's decision. oh but that is nothing today about the sound of silence i tried to have some comments from a governmental side or as well as well but that if used to do so today at the same time that it was a cabinet meeting to discuss the current issues and that didn't but they didn't come across these topic as well as there was a weekly meeting for his will love and peace of luck and their fists confidence they didn't comment at all about this issue usually such commands will be handled

by his will not secretary general has on the notes on the but on the whole you monster for the muslims you should he focus on the religious issues and keep the political stance on to the last friday of this month which is called by has been a good day or jerusalem state. ok so silence there in beirut mr schindler the german foreign minister announced this decision in a tweet today and the 1st reason that he listed was hezbollah's refusal to recognize the right of israel to exist does that surprise you because that is nothing new there's nothing new in that statement. thank you very much for having me obviously as you already pointed out this decision came along and liberation even the parliamentary vote. was the last stage in a very very long discussion you have to look at his fall in 2 ways at the one hand

this is it terrorism and i think today's decision we have found that it is but it also is a veritable crime network including inside german rocket carrying a gun running drug dealing were all part of what is or sympathizers and members up as well out in germany to raise funds for the organization so what is the big threat to germany mr schindler is it has the terrorist group or. the criminal gang money launderers both a problem however you cannot treat the terrorist aspect of the group without declaring it a terrorist school and you cannot create a terrorist group if you just simply only as a crime and now that uptick life is very much going online seeing a ramp up on like activities. as well in germany and without today's decision that would do nothing that and be done with today's decision of course they can the u.s.

ambassador to germany released a statement today praising germany's decision ambassador richard grinnell wrote and we can show our viewers that germany's efforts to confront this threat especially its legal ban on any has been activities on german soil are exactly what is needed throughout europe we call on all european union member states to take similar action so that from the u.s. ambassador mr schindler today's move could be seen as berlin falling into line behind washington is that what has happened. do we have any frank this is not the 1st u.s. administration of called for nato to look at his models now and to look and act on that european union to look at what a more closely in a way this is not a process that started with this u.s. administration and this is not a decision that ghana took because of us that was racial as far as i can see. you know up until recently or very recently the german government refused to ban has

been because of the group's presence in lebanon and in the lebanese parliament will germany's decision to hurt hezbollah's credibility among the lebanese people what do you think. let me put it this way germany. is a neutral and trustee. in the us to be kate's. thought at all between hezbollah and israel in the prisoners are sure according to this at least succeeded at least 2 times to find the law is that the pose the accord as well as well. as the trustee as i said and you took the word in july 2006 judgment if you don't under 50 it's soldiers in south lebanon you ask if it's known as unison accord you do to get asked to consider solution 70

along and make that mistake made shock some are because germany according to has a lot it's the closest you can friend to you know and. many it's also as a one off the it on commercial partners with iran you know it's interesting germany does have those ties with iran mr schindler syria has condemned germany's decision today how big of a role is hezbollah playing in conflicts around the world such as the war in syria . well i mean as i think it's figured out and all of that is definitely indispensable force multiplier for the assad regime it is supporting the main operations on the ground there with manpower pretty much from the stot so it does play a very significant role in south america as my organization the counter extremism by checked showed in their report 2018 is what i see very much involved in a massive amount of cigarette smuggling and commodity smuggling to find it's is

exactly the genes it is involved in. drugs in north africa all of those drugs up on 4 year old nowhere so in a way you know it is a multifaceted organization that is not just going to organization is definitely a terror organization it's also a crime network and as i said the days decision was deliberate it's. been a very good decision it didn't come over life but also before we run out of time and we just announced you know lebanon is a country in turmoil you got protests because of the economic crisis you have the the pandemic lockdowns now you've got germany banning hezbollah am i right in saying that it seems like things are going from bad to worse in lebanon. going to the financial and economy so should issues and different yes it does but when it comes to his will the christian a generous critic or his beloved son not mention too many times. the chinese should

. cycle is completely different from the national one they don't deal with the national banks they don't have money didn't come across the banking sectors and live in it so they have the financial. or i do w. correspondent bosler reading giving us the latest from beirut and there with the counter extremism project in new york and berlin to both of you gentlemen thank you . captain tom moore the british world war 2 veteran who raised millions for britain's national health service has been promoted to the brink of honorary colonel on his 100th birthday the air force flew world war 2 planes over his home just north of london in his honor the fly over was supposed to be a surprise but the government had to confirm the rumors in the face of tremendous media interest. captain or should i say colonel tom is not just a celebrity in britain fans around the world have been wishing him well on this

very special birthday. a flood of birthday wishes. it's the most amazing outpouring of love for a great man kept until nothing is called the hearts of everybody in this country and this is what it looks like we've we've had 125000 cards in the last week and a bit. this centenarian being celebrated as captain tom moore he's famously completed 100 laps of his garden with the help of his walking frame and in doing so raised more than 27000000 pounds to support britain's national health service during the coronavirus outbreak crutch. right here in america and they were kept in tom's aim was to raise just a 1000 pounds with his charity walk but his humble mission became an unexpected hit

as people tuned in from across the globe to watch his progress online. if you believe you have all the list so kind to give. good enough. having raised more donations than any charity walk in history he's even earned himself a spot in the guinness book of world records. while politicians athletes and stars are jumping at the opportunity to applaud the captain's initiative his donations have already enabled the opening of a brand new $500.00 bed hospital facility in yorkshire leaving little doubt that there is nothing a 100 year old with a strong sense of solidarity and a sturdy walking frame can do. and from all of us here in berlin here's wishing a very happy birthday to captain colonel tom moore will see them are.

moving. into the conflict zone in these extraordinary times we decided to take the opportunity to focus on the impact that the corona virus pandemic is having on human rights around the world there are reports of invasive surveillance of authoritarian power grabs my guest is the head of human rights watch kind of thoughtful how many limitations are people willing to accept in order to fight

a threat like coronavirus conflicts. next month d w. the global corona crisis you can find more information online fatty w dot com and don t w social media channels. and. rooms moreover a. symbol of a long conflict in the philippines. between the muslims and the christian population. by astrologers occupied the city center until now 17 president detergents response was to sum up. i. will never

again will hold him to. the reconquest turned into tragedy this is not the kind of freedom that we want. how did morality become a deep way to islamist terror. an exclusive report from a destroyed city. similar in the sense of i guess starts may 20th on d w. cut. something else it literally is ethical the bulk of you have called coronavirus the new terrorism nobody wants to see a dictatorship built over or over their head this week conflict zone has a different look and in these extraordinary times we decided to take the opportunity to focus on the impact that the coronavirus pandemic is having on human rights around the world there are.