this is d.w. news live from berlin tens of thousands of people flood the streets of belarus for changing the roads around demanding new elections even as president alexander lukashenko calls them criminals and warns people not to join in the protests also coming up. authorities in afghanistan release more taliban prisoners as a precondition for peace talks but in the face of opposition. and thousands of british travelers cut short their holiday is

a scramble to get home from france before the new born today rules come into effect . i'm married to evanston it's good to have you with us in bellerose defiance is mounting against authoritarian president alexander lukashenko tens of thousands of people have again rallied peacefully in the camp at all minsk it comes after disputed elections last weekend which saw police launch a brutal crackdown on dissent some of the 7000 protesters detained over the past week have been released many of them reporting having been beaten and tortured. across the country workers went on strike out in their voices to the swelling protest movement thousands upon thousands willing to risk their jobs. calling for

president alexander lukashenko to go he tried to play matters down. 20 people decided to speak their mind just abandon their work and left their boss said fine go on i have enough other people who will take your wages with these striking workers from a minsk tractor factory were unimpressed there placard reads we are not 20 we are 16000. in the early hours of friday authorities released thousands of people who'd been detained during the crackdown and demonstrations many emerged from custody with injuries and tales of police brutality their stories seem to have further energize the people on the street. was if we are against violence. we are for peace and transparent and fair elections and we want new authorities. if. people are tired of waiting. 26 years of

lawlessness rudeness insults and lies. authorities stood by as huge crowds again assembled in minsk on friday evening and some were rewarded moments of humanity between those demanding change and those representing the power of the state. and did a moscow correspondent and we sure when has been monitoring developments in belarus and she joins us now for more hello. it's been almost a week now since claimed his election victory 1st he tried to suppress the protests but now the belarus authorities seem to be taking perhaps a softer approach could this be a sign that lukashenko his grip on power is slipping. well judging from what we saw yesterday and the day before the scenes that we've

been seeing it almost did look like kind of scenes of victory we've seen huge crowds marching through the streets with the author already is not cracking down as they were at the beginning of the week protesters were going up to security forces hugging them giving them flowers and the security forces also put their shields down people were outside the house of government chanting we will win and shining lights from their telephones so really kind of scenes of victory that we've been seeing but on the other hand alex on the question went on t.v. yesterday several times and said that he hadn't left the country that he is alive. contrary to some of the rumors that had been circulating earlier in the week and he also didn't look like he was willing to go anywhere. well emily the european union of course has also been watching events in belarus very closely it's now

given the green light to impose sanctions on members of lucca shakos administration what impact do you believe these sanctions are likely to have. well it sounds like these will be targeted personal sanctions apparently they'll be against the people who were behind this crackdown that we saw earlier in the week now we don't know who will be on that list yet but it could have an impact can especially considering that we've been seeing in the last few days kind of video circulating on social media of various current and former police officers and security forces kind of burning their uniforms throwing away their uniforms so we've been seeing kind of look a shame goes traditional support base almost crumbling so if then these sanctions target kind of the minimum middle managers including the security forces that could have perhaps somewhat of an impact but this the sanctions also have

a huge symbolic importance members of the opposition in recent days of them talking about the importance of international solidarity and that's what we're seeing now well one person that exists has expressed solidarity is russian president vladimir putin emily quickly if you can how much of an influence has putin been so far while moscow has been actually unusually quiet in recent days and that may have to do with the fact that luca shango and bell russian state t.v. have been blaming moscow for the protests the foreign ministry then recently condemned that but it does seem and i mean the 2 the 2 leaders and russia and belarus will continue to be allies their close partners and there have been rumors on the streets of belarus that perhaps in the coming days or fears as well that perhaps in the coming days moscow could kind of get involved to prop up luka shango

emily sherman in moscow thank you very much. to afghanistan now where authorities are freeing 400 more taliban prisoners the release of government held prisoners has been a key taliban demand before entering peace talks with the government in kabul it's a controversial move since the freed prisoners include insurgents convicted of attacks on afghans and foreigners. their last few minutes behind bars just one more signature from the prison management and they're free these are the 1st prisoners allowed to leave this prison near kabul they are serious criminals terrorists and murderers and it seems they've memorized what they're supposed to say on camera. i am a member of the taliban and was imprisoned because of murder i wish for a long term ceasefire and peace. the president ordered my release.

part of the taliban and was sentenced because of murder and kidnapping i want peace i think god and i wish a peaceful life for all muslims. some of those released were convicted of being involved in the truck bomb attack on the german embassy in kabul in 2017 that day over 150 people were killed and more than 400 were wounded. lost her father during the attack she does not understand why the government is releasing the terrorists responsible for killing her father instead of ensuring they are punished for their crimes. didn't it better my message to my father's murderers is we do not forgive you and to the government i say we will never forget that you were letting these terrorists go the government could have given them the

death sentence why aren't they doing that. you have to settle down and many are skeptical that these telegram fighters will not turn their backs on violence and campaign for peace in war torn afghanistan. now look at some of the other stories making news this hour in japan amber naruhito has marked the 75th anniversary of the end of world war 2 expressing deep remorse for the country's role in the conflict he's the grandson of emperor hirohito leger pan and its fight against the allied forces. u.s. democratic presidential hopeful joe biden and vice presidential pick campbell harris have signed the documents necessary to certify their nominations biden selected harris as his running mates this week she's the 1st black vice presidential nominee in u.s. history. the united nations says the death toll from last week's massive explosion

in the lebanese capital beirut has risen to nearly 180 some 6000 people were injured the u.n. says the blast has affected operations at 2 dozen hospitals and clinics in the city and damaged schools attended by 50000 students. well thousands of british residents on vacation in france have been rushing home before a new quarantine rules took effect earlier on saturday morning britain has put france back on its list of countries subject to a mandatory 14 day quarantine on arrival following a jump in new corona virus infections there it's one of many restrictions being implemented as europe grapples with a new spike in cases that's being blamed in part on summer travel. rushing to get back home. with just over 24 hours warning the u.k. announced the mandatory 14 day quarantine for all those returning from france. that

sent u.k. residents for french airports ferry ports and train stations with many connections sold out. at the channel crossing in cali long lines of cars queue to get across the border in time for many travelers the new quarantine measure an ounce by prime minister boris johnson is puzzling. i would rather hear done in regions of france rather than just the whole of private shut down because i'm sure there are different regions that have higher numbers. so i'd rather look at the bigger picture i think there must be better ways to live but i suppose i understand and respect why it's important to do it. it seems bizarre that we can go home today. and not be applies to quarantine but tomorrow is a different. in a similar move germany has now declared the whole of spain with the exception of the canary islands a high risk region. those returning from spain will have to be tested for the virus

or go into quarantine the country has seen cases rising for weeks the government has now introduce new measures like closing nightclubs and prohibiting smoking in public places to try to curb the spread. of other groups from which i want to make clear is that what we are going through now is not what it was in march or april in terms of pressure on the hospitals the situation is totally different but we cannot allow an increase in cases and so we are taking these measures today. new measures and restrictions are being introduced in many countries across europe as the number of new coronavirus cases continues to climb across the continent the infections haven't yet reached the level seen at the height of the pandemic but concerns are growing that the seeds are being planted for a major resurgence and here's a look at some of the other developments in the corona virus pandemic almost 300

workers have tested positive at the green core sandwich making factory in the english town of northampton the company supplies retailer marks and spencer south korea has reported a 5 month high with 166 newly confirmed infections most of the new cases are in the capital seoul and new zealand is battling its 2nd outbreak of the corona virus confirming 7 new infections it's extending a lockdown of its largest city auckland by at least 12 days. all right to soccer now and a thrilling champions league quarter final match in lisbon where business like the champions by a munich hammered than a giant barcelona game was closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic but the variance still put on a show to remember have a look. in the 4th minute striker robert lewandowski laid up a perfect pass for thomas miller for the one nil lead but it didn't last long wire

defender dotted all of us course on his own net just minutes later a sparse alona tied up to one all but then the byron de lucia started in the 21st minute the germans took the lead again this time when even paris each scored from a tough angle to make it 2 to one just minutes later says cannot bring made it $3.00 to $1.00 on a given goal and again just a few minutes later miller got his foot on to a cross to score his 2nd goal for the 4 to one lead. early in the 2nd half spanish striker luis suarez reduced the buyer lead when he scored his side's 2nd goal but any hope barcelona had of catching up was soon squashed when byron's alfonso davis streaked on the left wing to feed to make to make it 5 to. indy 82nd minute love and off city also got on the scoreboard for his 14th champions league gold this season and a buyer in munich 60 to lead his team mate and substitute player philippe coutinho

then made it 72 and then repeated that just moments later again for an 82 byron slaughter of barcelona. you're up to date on date up and he is a marian evanston from me and the entire news team here in berlin thanks for the company. in this region any foolish surprises. coming all out. to give you some tips in the footsteps of the great people. in your northernmost town to.