especially in the coming weeks and months to. go over all the autumn and winter. is probably one of the most important functions in the whole concept to intervene. we suppose call how many days about to begin the government has called on citizens to avoid travel approach most of the tammany 16 states so agree to about an open night stays at hotels for visitors from high risk areas in a bid to cut the surge of new infections. for more on this let's bring in political correspondent simon young some in 4000 cases in one day what are german authorities doing to slow the number of new infections. so you have the overall strategy remains the same as it has been to observe the hygiene and distancing rules and where increased infections are seen to impose tougher measures and local law towns in some cases we've seen that in munich we're also seeing it in berlin as you

mentioned the german capital is now jumped about of that sort of threshold line of 50 infections per 100000 over a 7 day period so we're seeing you know bars closed at night and other contact restrictions here as some states around germany have even gone so far as to say that they will impose a ban on people within the country arriving from places that have been designated hot spots using hotels so that's quite a an extreme step to morrow freud a chancellor merkel will meet the mayors of 11 large cities to discuss what further measures can be taken i think law and cities are increasingly being seen as a key focus of the fight against corona as you probably know angle merkel has said today that she doesn't want a repeat of the situation we had in the spring what lessons have been learned since

the beginning of the outbreak. yes and the chancellor also said that the best package for the economy would be an effective fight against coronas i think a lot of lessons have been learned horse medical authorities a much better able now to deal with the virus for instance separating patients in hospital there have been a lot of talk about ventilation airing out rooms make sure the virus doesn't spread in that way so i think there's a lot of things that the authorities are doing and will continue to do now simon earlier we talked to an epidemiologist at berlin charity hospital who said the warning of an uncontrollable outbreak in germany was unjustified not even in spring time. hospital passage here to answer your capacity it was even remotely used in germany we obviously are well aware that in some

cities in italy and spain and also france and probably also you can see the. of there was a shortage but in germany there has never been a shortage to give you a clear idea curve of the about 3 percent of intensive care unit capacity is used for 19 patients in berlin so some in the main thread their hospitals are unlikely to become overwhelmed why. well i think it's as that experts say it's largely to do with hospital ok pass if he just to underline it in another way germany has already 30000 beds the suitable for intensive care for cove aids patients in another 12000 could easily be converted for their use there's a number of intensive care units that was set up around the country many of the

beds there were never a used so i think that's a key point i also think we're seeing an increase in infections among younger people they of course don't tend to get so severely ill so that could also help to keep down the number of hospitalizations d.w. simon young simon much appreciated let's get you brief now on some of the latest developments in the corona virus pandemic virus infections in the netherlands are also soaring registering over $5800.00 cases in 24 hours more than double the number from a week ago in france new daily cases or at an all time high and hospitalizations have also jumped with more than 7500 people currently receiving hospital treatment for covert 19 a top immunologist in the united states has quit his job over president trump's response to the virus dr rick wright said the administration was ignoring scientific expertise. now highlighting some of the other stories making news around

the world at this hour fresh clashes have erupted between azerbaijan and armenia in and around the disputed region of new going to the fighting comes ahead of talks between the u.s. france and russia aimed at securing a cease fire between the 2 former soviet republics. residents of mexico's yucatan peninsula are cleaning up after hurricane delta the storm packed winds of up to 17575 kilometers per hour there were no reports of deaths and the damage was less severe than initially feared the storm is now heading towards the u.s. gulf coast. the resort of in northern cyprus has been reopened after being abandoned for more than 40 years the beach front was deserted after turkey invaded the region in 1974 splitting the mediterranean island into the northern cypriot from. proposed the reopening which is backed by.

the 2020 nobel prize in literature has been awarded to the american writer and poet louise glick swedish noble academy said the she had one for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal clicks debut collection of poetry 1st born was published in 1968 she's a pulitzer prize winner and a professor of english literature at yale university the swedish nobel committee described her as one of the most prominent poets in american contemporary literature the academy announce the award after several years of controversy and scandal for the world's preeminent literary accolade. karen hamstead from arts and culture karen it's good to see you so. we're expecting this you know.

in a word that i've digested it by now but in a word no i was definitely she was not on top of my radar let's say when i woke up this morning. many obviously as an american poet you will know of her but many people on this side of the pond will not know her work but she's definitely well decorated as you said yourself pulitzer prize in 1903 and she was poet laureate in the states from 2003 till 2004 and i was pretty surprised because you know we were actually many were expecting the the academy to to possibly try to redeem itself for the past few years and i would have expected them to be a bit more in tune with the political side guys and perhaps try to bring a bit more diversity to the award on the other hand it says something about the relevance of poetry today and if it gets more people writing poetry then that can only be a good thing you know there are so many beautiful writers out there in the world some who will never get recognized with even the smallest accolade to put this in some perspective for us. yeah i'm so i mean what what the academy decides is is always relatively relatively mysterious sometimes i mean she's

considered definitely one of the most important and talented contemporary voices in america she's currently writer in residence at yale university so she does definitely have a very visible presence there she's written many books poetry her most recent faithful and virtuous knight actually won the national book award back in 2014 so she's known for her technical precision for an intense emotional quality great sensitivity into family issues loneliness death and loss and she does a lot of reworking of classical mythology into her work and nevertheless she's a poet that people can understand and i think that's one of the reasons she was she writes poetry that that that people understand i think that's what the cademy liked about her we both now refer to past scandals. there there was even an alternative prize back in 2018 that's right so the question is used the nobel prize for literature still relevant with the times you know there are

a lot of people who feel that in its current form it has really outlived its usefulness and even perhaps caused a lot of damage the academy is obviously in their view dated privilege definitely not transparent enough as i've said there was huge controversy last year in 2019 when the award went to peter hunt an austrian writer who has unfortunately in his later works downplayed and even denied the genocide committed by the serbs against muslims in the bosnian war so that was highly controversial from a political standpoint there's been sexual misconduct scandals obviously with a member of the academy's husband who was convicted of rape in 2018 there was also financial misconduct imbedded in that story and that all reflects really poorly on the academy that let these things go on for many many years obviously a largely male dominated and highly secretive group as well as we know sort of their their their rules they've also been accused for

a very long time of being just too euro centric you know and for not recognising the incredible scope of writers out there that are writing in other languages like arabic or chinese or for. non european languages let's put it that way and then of course there's the gender issue and they got that right this time with louise glick but it's certainly it's certainly not what i think many people were expecting in throughout all scandals or not your nobel prize and there's still a moment to jenna flecked of the winner that's right thank you so much karen homestead pritchett you're very welcome. in the us dad is going over how and if the next presidential debate will take place president donald trump says he will not take part in a proposed virtual debate after an announcement by organizers that next thursday's event would be held online trump's democratic challenger joe biden had previously refused to take part in a face to face contest while the president was still infected with the krona virus

meanwhile republican vice president mike pence and his democratic challenger campbell harris have held their only debate ahead of the universe or election the 2 clashed over the trump administration's response to the pandemic and several other hot button issues. after the recent chaotic presidential debate this seemed civil and much more. the 2 candidates seated at a safe distance divided by plexiglass barriers in the 1st and only vice presidential debate both harris and pence seemed ready for fire willing to give every need to vice president just like he interrupted me and i'd like to just fence the coronavirus pandemic was just one of many issues of contention between mike pence and camila harris the american people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in history of our country undermining the pens who hits president trump corona pandemic task force on it went on the

defensive from the very 1st day president donald trump has put the health of america 1st before there were more than 5 cases in the united states all people who had returned from china president donald trump do what no other american president had ever done whatever the vice president with a pandemic still affecting millions of americans leaving many worried about keeping their health care coverage harris went straight on the attack if you have a preexisting condition heart disease diabetes breast cancer they're coming for you . if you love someone who has a preexisting condition and you think only so many of you if the vaccine ends his response avoided specifics obamacare was a disaster for the american people remember it well in prison trump and i have a plan to improve health care and for preserve protect preexisting conditions for every american and here's the abortion also came up as always an important factor

in american elections were informed. i'm pro-life i don't apologize for and this is another one of those cases where there's such a dramatic contrast joe biden kamel harris support taxpayer funding of abortion all the way up to the moment of birth late term abortions they want to increase funding to planned parenthood of america issues before us can be more serious there is the issue of choice and i will always fight for a woman's right to make a decision about her own body it should be her decision and not that of donald trump and and the vice president michael pence though most viewings of the debate to place bertie at home some locations host a small viewing parties like this one in cincinnati. well i think it was a lot more like a debate than the previous presidential that be a lot more with what normally happens. ah it was pleasantly surprised to see more

civility in this debate than the previous presidential debate. it's unclear how much this vice presidential debate will change the dynamics off the presidential race donald trump and his challenger joe biden will to face off again in the 2nd debate next week. now earlier i spoke with our washington correspondent meyers waiter and asked her how the vice president and his opponent had performed. honestly they both had a job to do and they both did their job pence is often seen as that antidote to trump he is a consummate politician he smooths out from rough edges he gives a lot of people who are a little more wary about trump something to to grasp onto. something a little more experience to look at harris had to attack she had to attack the president's pandemic plan his health care plan all the various issues many of which

have come up in the past almost 4 years of this administration both of them did their jobs plan sat there and he stuck to the party line he talked about the president's accomplishments and harris did in fact go on the attack she was able to hit him on health care on the supreme court all of these different issues that have come up honestly though michel we have 4000000 people in this country who have already voted poll say that 90 percent of people have already made up their minds as is the case a lot with these debates it is a chance for people to get to know the candidates but it's not going to change anyone's mind. to the middle east now 5 years ago russia intervened in syria with airstrikes turning around the civil war that president bashar al assad's troops had almost lost since then his rejean supported by russia and iran has regained control of most of syria only provinces still controlled by rebels who are supported by turkey a ceasefire began in march but an increasing number of air strikes has left people

fearing a new offensive by assad's forces. even when he's making t. plane spotter zane's focuses on the job not to miss a single military plane taking off from the bases controlled by the saturation. the 41 year old has set up a mini listening station to follow syrian and russian radio communications at a secret location for security reasons along with other volunteers he monitors all air traffic over you clip around the clock. as a mode where we can listen in to the pilot's radio communications and find out his destination so we know where the bombs might fall of to look i do this work for civilians if we can warn them we can save lives. as soon as he spots anything warrants local civilians hospital sent 1st responders using radio and other networks. he says the number of air raids on eclipse has

risen significantly in recent weeks although the ceasefire agreement is still in effect. on hold my biggest fear is that the russian air force will bomb adlib city because it is so densely populated. in recent weeks the bombs sometimes more than 20 a day have mainly targeted less populated areas but there's growing concern that assad and his forces are set to launch a new offensive also targeting hospitals and schools in a similar way to the beginning of the year when attacks flattened the small town of . many families have since returned home but holiday khalid from the local council has no idea how they will survive the coming winter water supplies hospitals electricity generators have all be destroyed and covered 19 infections

are on the rise. and in demonic why do we. we can't coroner people to protect them from the coronavirus. they've got to work to feed their families we would need support from relief agencies in our town but no one has shown up and even the. hundreds of thousands of people have sought refuge in the sprawling campus of northern euclid province here 2 conditions are palling but there's at least some support from relief organizations. comma after mature man is among those who desperately need that support a year ago his house was destroyed and then their right one of his sons was killed after met lost both legs he's grateful for the 10 they were given but he's anxious about the winter that lies ahead. and i'm disabled i can't walk at all. we've got no income

nothing at all he. says his wife left him because he could no longer bear the gloom and the misery in the tent since then his sister has been looking after him and her 3 children they've never known anything but war never been to school. or don't say the children i'm very bad change they don't listen to me. especially the elder sister driving us crazy they just want their mother back. so what does the future hold how can they possibly keep going what will they do for heating when winter sets in what about the koran a virus and where can they go next if forced to start a new offensive too many questions and no answers. let's

bring in the. short who just who filed that report we're going to that's. a poignant piece we just saw you have been to syria you have reported from there do you also suspect that a new offensive is coming. this is very difficult to say right now we've seen more violations of the cease fire deal for definitely it's not only through air raids but also through artillery if fire from both sides the situation is very volatile right now the. government has sent deployed more troops into the region to support the rebels and russia really want these troops out so what we're seeing right now is more a situation which is influenced by the difficult relationship between russia tricky rather than a fight between us had regime and the rebels you opened your piece with that

flight spotter there it appears to be a fairly sophisticated system could you tell us how that works yeah there are at least 5 spotters in the in the region. and other souls who are operational in the us has had areas close to the military bases which are controlled by a sat. and what they're doing actually they are collecting data like when is this plane leaving the airport which sort of plane is it and they feed all these data into a program called sentry and this program which was developed by 2 u.s. americans this then guess is where the destination off of the plane is and issues a warning and that triggers automatically facebook and other social media messages tweets and most importantly. high readings in the sirens and.

supposedly affected areas and this is a huge improvement for the people on the ground because they have at least some 7 minutes to prepare for a possible as strike and seek refuge i magine that is something of a godsend for the people in the province now imagine you are also in fairly constant contact with people there how much aid is getting to the people of it live . to cut it short not enough at all the local relief organizations on the ground are really doing whatever they can but they don't get enough aid in and the situation deteriorated in july when the so cold across the border mechanism ex-pirate and this mechanism allowed the u.n. agencies to bring in a without asking us how true. this was crucial because often try to block

8 which was supposed to go into the rebel held areas so now when the when the mechanism expired russia pressed very heart and insisted on reducing the border crossings from 2 to one so now. the mechanism is really established but there's only one open border crossing for for a to come in and this is not an off one border crossing. we're going to really appreciate your perspective and your insights. a reminder of the top stories we're following for you in the last 7 days berlin has recorded more than 50 cases of the coronavirus for every 100000 people germany's capital has now been designated a coronavirus hotspot and could face tougher lock down measure. this year's nobel literature prize has been awarded to the american writer and poet louise the swedish noble academy said she had one for her unmistakable poetic voice writing on themes of childhood and family what's. next is our magazine's focus

on europe where we take a look at the trial against bashar al assad's tortures that's taken place here in germany in berlin more news for me at the top of the out thanks for joining.

one continent. 700000000 people. with their own personal stories. that we explored every day life for. what europeans fear and what they hope for. some kids when they're up. next on d.w.i. . every

2 seconds a person is forced to flee their home nearly 71000000 people have been forcibly displaced. the consequences have been disastrous for our documentary series displaced depicts dramatic humanitarian crises around the world you know. forget them i didn't go to university to kill people that i saw you know or to have my boss come to me and tell me to kill someone having the men even if i don't they'll kill me and. people see what their lives and their future so they seek refuge abroad about the arena of the scares me the most about this state to seem to arise is that someday we won't even see the rusalka. but what will become of those

who stay behind and simply my husband went to peru because of the crisis. if he hadn't gone there we would have died of hunger. that sentiment down. just starts october 16th on. hello and welcome to a new a defense of focus on europe we begin today's show with a conflict that might be far away from europe you know graphically but still has a direct impact on our.