sitting. in for migrants your platform for reliable information. this is the the view from berlin in the fight against covert 19 of the world's richest countries finally bowing to global pressure after the us backs plans to wage corona virus vaccine patents the e.u. says let's talk it's being held as a historic moment by the w.h.o. but it's only a 1st step in the push for more effective vaccine distribution. freedoms for

a few the german parliament votes in favor of legislation that will exempt people immunized against covert 19 from certain restrictions fox many fear that privileges could further define german society. democracy activist was sentenced to an additional 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to taking part in an authorized assembly. m get out of his welcome to the program and we begin with what could be a breakthrough in the drive to boost the world's coronavirus vaccine supply and improve global access u.s. president joe biden has announced support for waiving vaccine patent protections the white house says extraordinary measures are needed to end the pandemic in. has

previously resisted efforts by the world trade organization to temporarily suspend intellectual property protections on covert 19 vaccines its knowledge joins more than 100 countries in support of the policy says of major vaccine makers madonna and novak's dipped all the news you have use william google joins me now with more on this story william what exactly is u.s. president joe biden advocating it so this would be a temporary waiver to the patent rights of the pharmaceutical companies have over the vaccines they developed in record time as we know in this past year in the pen demick now of course the u.s. is a loud voice but only one voice at the world health organization they would need unanimous consent from all the members which is almost the entire world to actually pass a temporary waiver generally the united states is a strong advocate for patent protection for intellectual property rights for protecting their industries for good for maintaining that incentive for the profit

incentive for developing new technologies in all kinds of fields i'm it's often china that the u.s. points out as as china cheat on intellectual property rules to develop their own kind of a rip off of different kinds of products but it's a campaign promise of joe biden he said that he would he would support this kind of waiver at the show and now he's coming through with this after an intense pressure from other democrats from progressive groups and from world health advocates so if agreement can be arranged what will this mean for global vaccine nexus. well we're talking about generics right generic versions cheaper versions of a name brand product whether it's the pfizer vaccine astra zeneca danno the number of other vaccines that are on the line right now to allow vaccine makers pharmaceutical companies all around the world to develop locally to develop more cheaply and to get supply really boosted all around the world especially the lower and middle income countries now of course the pharma industry in the united states

is absolutely against this they say it would affect supply effect security and let's not forget that while you know companies like pfizer are going to earn or have earned billions of dollars from their vaccine development it also takes billions of dollars to research these kinds of breakthrough technologies technologies and they say they need that incentive and they need the money to be able to continue the research and development that gives us these kinds of drugs and these kinds of vaccines in such quick order which is of course the difficult diplomacy side as well that seems have become a kind of currency and it led a world for international relations which china and russia have been very effective with their vaccines and the u.s. having been so effective at home now may want to show some goodwill around the world with actually distribution well and thank you for this analysis that's. e.u. commission president owes a final analysis the e.u. is also prepared to discuss the way of a look for ways to improve global access to covert 19 vaccines the

european union is also ready to discuss any proposal that address the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner and that's why we are ready to discuss how the u.s. proposal for a waiver on intellectual property protection for covered vaccines could help achieve that objective. funnel and speaking then are now joined from brussels by our correspondent band. band fun alliance says the commission is willing to consider waiving patents that she can't decide that i'm wrong. though she is certainly needs also the number state of the on board they will discuss this. at a summit coming up in lisbon this weekend and it's the forum for that is the w t o the world trade organization there are some emergency mechanism that would allow

it to waive some of these intellectual property rights but the e.u. officials briefing impreza say it's not that simple because there are actually no peyton's legally speaking on this vaccines yet and madonna for example one of the companies has no payton on that and doesn't want one if we are talking about licensing the production so the they could force companies to issue licenses to other producers to tell them how to actually make this vaccine and how to set up production sides and it's not a simple generic generic a that you're producing here and the companies warn it is not that easy in its no remedy for the short term. need for vaccines baby in the long term that will help but in the law in the short to only the export from producing sites already existing would be a solution so they knew of her example is urging the u.s.

to export vaccines which is not doing right now and that this could be a way out of the short term crisis maybe did i mean a spending up there from brussels thank you ben. not have a look at some of the other stories making headlines around the world u.s. secretary of state anthony blinken has arrived in ukraine for talks with president vladimir selenski is expected to reassure here for u.s. support after russia has amassed more than 100000 troops along ukraine's eastern border the country's anti-corruption efforts will also be on the agenda. around 50 french fishing boats sailed in a flotilla to the british of jersey on thursday in protest over posed brags that fishing rights front says the new rules unfairly restrict their ability to fish in u.k. waters. voters in scotland are going to the polls on thursday in an election that could decide the fate of its independence movement 1st minister nicolas sturgeon's

says a win for scottish national party would be a mandate for a 2nd independence drive to break away from the united kingdom. to india now which has reported more than 400000 new covert $1000.00 cases and almost $4000.00 deaths in a single day another record for both the burden on the country's health care system is becoming increasingly unsustainable as patients overwhelm hospitals and crucial supplies run short it's all hands on deck with the medical students now being called upon to help out. running low on sleep jr dr. dre says in protective gear to begin a 27 hour long shift. he's only 26 years old and hasn't even finished his medical training. we had a flame is what this is

a great board. believe she'll be much easier in your market but we are both human. at this point i think you have to be able to do this if you are good if you are not fit and i just want to be. there is a severe shortage of oxygen and ventilators at this hospital and others across delhi many people come looking for a bed for a sick relative but these are also in very short supply patients and relatives crowd every available space in some cases people lying close enough for patients to touch one man is in a storage room surrounded by bins of medical waste real hans's the sounds of his workplace haunt his sleep. that he saw this on because you know you can read yes you think that eat eat eat eat eat. that continuously because you know it you know

it would be the. patient's rush from hospital to hospital hoping to find someone who will admit them many are turned away left to die on the street oxygen supplies are transported by armed guard and crematoriums work around the clock. maybe even speed but what happens to be. before they're going to but they found him on this if they could make me think it would be with me if maybe they were going to. after 27 hours in the e.r. ruined our gov us is he could sleep for 2 days but a friend with a sick father calls real hard agrees to help knowing that in reality there's not much he can do. let's go to india now where i'm joined by the neat about season human knowledge is that the india institute of science education and efficient and

research the government is saying that the 2nd wave is linked to a double mutant variant 1st discovered in march oh much evidence is there for this . very lose every day and it was discovered in much like it was in the keys from january. sequencing wasn't not enough in time and that is why tracing back its origin in which i got this easy to see it and want to dig out it. sequencing of the virus is easy. enough circumstantial evidence to see that this particular that when you go into the area as it so even now the 1.617 that you probably are actually i can see it's a cause and effect relationship but as that's also the action is pretty strong. probably. but it's not present all over the country and i'm still not even.

so india together with south africa has led the proposals for a waiver vaccine patton's how significant would such a waiver be for india and the shirt in the short and the long term. it's even subdued this is a. matter you know i mean you don't see a situation like this. format fracture however if you look at it in. fact if you use vaccines that is in any way even got i'm not a buyer to manufacturers or seat i mean the biggest manufacturer in the world i'm not going off the thing enough doses off work i don't need more often so we shouldn't get in vaccination but i have the ritual in india so even if there is this assurance and instead is if acknowledging chance but i still feel there is in

young long life before the vaccine production will clearly be the vehicle for a massive execution so i think the only solution right now is importing where we're maxine's. insufficient on course. and of course it's going to be. india's government top scientific advisor yesterday want to the 3rd way it could be on the way doesn't mean india has already seen the peak of the 2nd wife you think. i wonder are that in the statement by a sceptic and by others they are certainly climbing up as your pocket stated there are $400000.00 plus it's even already yesterday and so. is still going up and up i don't know when you can reach the feel physically i've also been reaching 5 feet thanks so much had already going down enough for us.

0 one thing that. is quite ok i don't know why you went belly up other. than the there is not enough fat illegal calories within india and vaccines are wheeling out 100 percent yet and. that makes it i don't think fiction should be there. so we have. the. only way the leaves and string the medical infrastructure that everybody's talking and the only in the state but i don't mean already at the top or. so are basically been here about what it gets this above thank you very much for taking the time to talk to the ws thank you. no with infection rates falling

and vaccination numbers slowly rising germany is easing extra restrictions for people who are fully inoculated with 2 shots the parliament approved the decision granting more freedom for those who've been vaccinated against the corona virus or have recovered from an infection the government says it's not about granting privileges reinstating constitutional rights but germans seem very much divided over the contentious issue among you can create too much disparity within the population but at the same time you have to make sure that you somehow find a balanced solution. i'm in favor of giving freedom back to those who are no longer pose a risk but it would mean that people who don't get vaccinated for whatever reason are 2nd class citizens and i'm all for it but it's an injustice towards some people . that i'm not ok with the fact that the non vaccinated also have to reckon with

considerable disadvantage is. of a more this that's premiums dami is a medical doctor on the member of the german parliament with a green party some basic rights of now restored for those who are vaccinated over it covered as a what's your party's line on this decision. well it was important to reinsure the right self people who are vaccinated especially in controlled settings for example care homes are if you think rooms in the hospital where people who are working really hard for the health of the people since months take their break together so. basically where we can say it is safe that people have contacts together again and also to give the people who are vaccinated the right to move in freedom all day long so we've just just a couple of seconds ago we've heard of

a few voices from ordinary people on the streets here don't you think that we are creating sort of a 2 claw society here. well we have to differentiate between different situations i completely agree that if we for example talk about the rights to enter. a shop or to enter a certain setting we have to assure that people who are vaccinated have. rights and people who are not vaccinated but could enter this setting by a negative test for example so. i think. if we look at still ongoing pandemic as a doctor i'm. fully recommend to everybody that we only take small steps now and. to assure on one side that everybody is complying with the rules until

everybody is vaccinated and also to assure that these. will still be under control do you think this could also act as an incentive for those who are not willing to them vaccinated this still a pretty high number of people don't want to. help. well it could help at the moment to be honest we're still in the last period where. important part of this vaccination campaign where we still face shortage of vaccine doses over here in germany but we enter a 2nd phase now where it is important to really scale vaccination throughout the whole population and then also there will be a lot of work to do to. get people to the vaccination centers or to their health

care facility and get their job and they could be one good argument that normalization off their daily life is one of the advantages you get when you are vaccinated but if you look at all which is the u.k. which has seen a dramatic fall in cases although most of the vaccinated haven't even had the 2nd dose isn't that proof that restrictions can be eased safely more restrictions safely. well this situation not only over here in germany but globally is still very fragile i mean we have to face the fact that there are many very dangerous very unsafe. gadding on our. screen and on our pandemic management day by day and we really have to be careful that we don't destroy all the success which is made so far by. the openings over here in germany and

also in other parts of the world so as a doctor i say let's be careful and small steps. to gain control. of germany is green party thank you very much for the time. and we go to hong kong where there's been another setback for the pro-democracy movement one of its most prominent figures joshua been sentenced to a further 10 months in jail for participating in an authorized vigil last june already serving a 17 month sentence for his role in anti-government protests in the territory in 2019. when activist joshua long was brought to court he most likely knew his jail term would be extended hong kong authorities have been tightening their grip on freedom of expression in the city he's already serving jail time for his role in pro-democracy protests but now he's been sentenced to an extra 10 months for participating in

a visual last year that commemorated the victims of the $989.00 tiananmen square massacre. and we are very disappointed in how i have been failing to save our rights to say the iraqi people. to feel that session. for years hong kong was the only place in china where people were allowed to mark the anniversary of beijing's crushing of the chinese democracy movement until it was banned last year. and many other activists have fallen victim to hong kong and beijing suppression of dissent following months of anti-government protests beginning in 2019. 1 was due to be released in november he's now likely to be behind bars well into 2023. was staying in hong kong where 2 had. been chosen as winners of this year's human rights press awards given out by

hong kong's foreign press club. was selected for this report. protesters who were shot by police and. found themselves facing criminal charges. correspondent was recognized for 40 produce 40 w.'s w on the chinese human rights lawyers who went missing after defending dissidents. well to asians to both colleagues here are some more stories making headlines around the world facebook's over sides a board has upheld the social media giants decision to suspend donald trump's account but it said it was wrong to ban the former president indefinitely for violating rules on inciting violence the board has given the company 6 months to determine what it calls a proportionate response to. the fresh clashes between police and protesters in the colombian comparable with taj it's the latest violence hollers in

days of protests against economic inequality and police brutality at least 24 people have been killed a young arrest this past week. 27 nigerian students abducted almost 2 months ago have been released they were kidnapped to the forestry college in kaduna state on the 11th of march originally more were taken but the some were released early on. in football the stage is set for the champions league final later this month chelsea will join manchester city in the final after beating around the dread to nil he had to walk us through all that is attacking from g.w. supposedly much was this a deserved win when the opposition coach even admits that chelsea were the better us high and i'm sure that this was a deserved when they were energetic they control the tempo over 180 minutes and german international team over and also finally rising to the ok ok zhang by making

it one nil in the 1st half and he has struggled to score goals since joining the english side so good on him and after that despite creating a lot of chances chelsea didn't really get on the scoresheet until really late until what was it mason moment scored the deal in the 85th minute to make it to know and chelsea of course made history because now they're the press club where the men's and women's side. both have reached the champions league high note all in one season and of course thomas took after the win yesterday very very pleased with his side let's take a listen what a spirit to show in moments where we needed to suffer in 1st half and what the reaction in 2nd half and never never never never never down and that's what always up even after these big chances that we must always stay positive and never regret something so testing. so while still speaking they have

to the image that the german. if you will all much of a role how does that play in the wind a big road because just listening to it is the old tone right that the sound bite that we just heard it's like the man himself should take credit for that because since he took over chelsea in january he has been a stabilizing force he has what is it he has tighten a defense that conceit far fewer goals than before and more importantly he's gotten the best out of each and every player like this like this fighting spirit like they really are into impressing their coach or going back to to the german touch is definitely a german touch involved and not just here with thomas $200.00 but the last 3 champions league finals all featured a german coach so credit to the german coaching system they definitely doing something really really special. still it will be an all english

final is going to happen in istanbul so what can we expect that he is the irony of it all because city and chelsea here we have 2 clubs making the final that only a few we go was all set on destroying the champions league the champions league by joining the super league the european super league so it's been you know a very interesting turn of events but going back to in terms of expectations chelsea obviously the more inexperienced site here but took her even said after the game that we know what to expect we beat city in the f.a. cup so we're confident and he says the chances are 5050 but when it comes to pressure i think they'll be a lot more pressure on city especially on pep guardiola because people need to remember that he has won a lot of trophies but city he's had a lot of records but he's not really done what he was supposed to do and that is when the champions league is not yet so he has a shot. i think balls thank you very much. it was indeed i mean in here's

a reminder of all top stories the european union says it's willing to discuss covert 19 vaccine patent waivers this comes off to the u.s. publicly backed plans to improve global vaccine supply and that's accessed by temporarily suspending intellectual property rights where the discussions of the world trade organizations are expected to take months. that's it for me on the news stream don't go away coming up next conflict zone to sebastian talks to sri lanka for. as moche.

to. enter the conflict zone the government of sri lanka has been strongly criticized the un human rights council which more limited to breaking situation in the country and the crease marginalise ation of minorities my guest this week is john i'll call on my each side could reach a strain lanka's foreign ministry physically. dumb enough to take the criticism

seriously i'm still something about conflicts. on top of. all the more. ready to go to. places in europe are smashing records step to move. just don't lose your grip it's treasure the globe trotters discover some of the records great sites. also in book form. slick. carefully.

those soon. to be a good. match. discovered . subscribe to a documentary. on the b.b.c. all these things well than you don't know that you proud of living in a country where child care let's all get presidential pardon me. anyone believing something wrong the government of sri lanka has been strongly criticised of the un human rights council which warned of a deteriorating situation in the country the erosion of judicial independence and the increased ma. generalization of minorities my guest this week is john

a column by the secretary to sri lanka's foreign ministry is there any chance at all that his government will take the criticism seriously and finally do something about them. jai and off colombia gave welcome to conflict zone in the last few days the un human rights council passed a landmark resolution highlighting your government's failure to ensure accountability for human rights violations and mandating un investigators to collect and preserve data that can be used in future judicial proceedings they do that mr secretary because of your abject failure to do it for yourselves and because of the worsening human rights climate in your country aren't you ashamed of

that well let me say the world war ended 78 years later earlier and we still he see that recede will effects on the environment on the physical things and the good friday agreement was in 1998 and that 116 wars which is called peace was not we're not talking about is not over all and mr secretary i was talking about we're talking about sri lanka and your failure to ensure accountability for human rights violations which you've already illinois which you have denied in other interviews. no we had the war for one more one generation and it takes time to heal a completely war and possibly frustrating war it was a brutal war right and we finished the war in 2009 and between 2009 and 201592 percent of the land occupied by the military were released 295000 people who were used as

a human shield but we integrate and resettle into the community well i understand i understand all that mr secretary but your your foreign minister has already denied the accusations of serious human rights violations you put up the inevitable barriers of denials and accusations of western bias do you really think that the rest of the world is so stupid that they're going to immediately accept those denials in the face of overwhelming documented evidence of your current human rights abuses i'm not talking about those just in the past i'm talking about continuing human rights abuses in your country. there are these documents can we have a look at these documents that you are referring to the u.n. has said about are you the u.n. has sent back to you numerous times you read them in the in the resolution of the human rights council so it's

a little strange for you to pretend that you haven't seen them. well we have seen this document prepared by the human rights commission now that's ok but you know there had been 5 i mean from 201220132 those and 14 and now to those 2021 so every time this government comes to power they said resolution from the united nations human rights council right is that fair i think we have to ask that the human breakup council whether that is fair are only child should be held to a country or actions isn't it mr secretary i don't know what your father as one of your foreign minister called the accusations forced and complained about the resolution was politically motivated but more than 40 countries co-sponsored this resolution 22 voted for it 14 abstained only 11 against your rapidly losing international support and credibility in the vote to prove it to him who are these party countries that if i countries are in your wrong right then outside the

europeans canada and america england malawi and solomon marshall islands so $35.00 countries got together and make this an unsubstantiated accusations allegation so this is nothing to do with the human race in sri lanka also the so there are automatic so they're automatically wrong even your good friend india who you love it incessantly to vote against the resolution they abstained they were buying your denials either were they. but look at what the statement made by the indian permanent representative in the beginning they said this kind of country specific resolutions are wrong and then they said they abstain that is their policy that yes they are your kind are you want that to support you the real question from all this mr secretary is do you want to be taken seriously on the international stage or just dismissed as one more serial human rights abuse or protected by a small gang of other abusers we want to be taken very seriously in the

international community and nor other country or entity is more interested than sri lanka to find a lasting solution to the residual issues that we have in sri lanka because we are a small country small population and the harmony and peace is of critically important for us more than anyone else but it has to evolve within us no one can force a conciliation lets you say you want to hear wounds and you want reconciliation but let's take the un's charge of you marginalizing minorities one of the worst examples has been your instruction to cremate the bodies of covert victims something that you knew would be deeply hurtful to your muslim community and other minorities you've now retracted this order but you claimed in a recent interview that you simply followed the science on the world health organization had originally instructed or covert bodies should be cremated that

statement of yours was completely untrue wasn't it they never said anything of the current. well if you look at the birth health organization in need there said cremation of all korean bodies it is they are of course they haven't they no they didn't mr secretary they did not get what was 8 what date was that when they have the hour but i will come back to you on this and then lead grounded change that to katie the burial is permitted and now that question is behind our scheme we have buried $69.00 i saw you while you change the subject but you told me you made a statement that was blatantly false since march last year the w.h.o. made it clear that the burial of covert victims was perfectly acceptable its statement called it a common myth that persons who have died of communicable disease should be cremated but this is not true commission is a matter of cultural choice and available resources to date and there is no evidence of persons having become infected from exposure to the bodies of covert

900 victims that was march 20th last year but you ignored all that and your government kept on ordering the cremation of covert victims despite knowing that this would cause untold pain and distress so your excuse for the world health organization said this falls apart it just simply doesn't conform to the facts mr secretary well it was never a political decision it was always a health and science decision only thing years we'd get fight against the decision to change that but it took some time and we do understand that past not the best thing to do we didn't hurt the sentiments of a population our community in sri lanka that is not the best thing we could do yes we do understand i'm not arguing against them but now we have corrected it and we have moved on 69 bodies have already been buried and now it's behind us we took time. talking of marginalizing minorities it turns out that your own president has

indulged in some pretty inflammatory rhetoric over the last year hasn't it on november the 18th he talked about legitimate fears that the sinhala race religion national resources and their heritage would be threatened with destruction in the face of various local and foreign forces and ideologues that support separatism extremism and terrorism this was a clear dog whistle to his supporters to be on their guard against muslims and other minorities wasn't this wasn't a call for national unity he was blatantly pressing the fear button knowing full well that it would stop the kind of discrimination and disharmony that you claim to be fighting. team you wait and see there is a lot of evidence surfacing regarding the east a bombing east of bombing was the single most devastating act of terrorism which took place in this country nearly $270.00 christiana's foreigners and 3 hotels and 3 churches were bombed by the extremists you wait and see the 19 that was

2019 and everybody everybody admits there's no argument there that this was a terrible attack i'm talking about what your president said november the 18th last year stoking the fires of communal hatred as i said this was in the well for the national unity he was pressing the fear button telling people to be afraid of the minorities quite clear from what he said. being in the same state mon i 5 remember right he made it very clear that he is the president for all communities all people in this country although he was elected by the single a majority so you take one portion of that and argue but i can argue back it is not by the president meant president has been very focused on maintaining harmony but on the back of the elections one of them said mr secretary whether or not many did

it it's what he said it's exactly what he said he said i am the president and i am the president for all people of this country so there was not only an occasion in that i was controversial but what it was contradicted by what he said about national resources and heritage sent her heritage will be threatened with destruction but. it's been present for the last 5600 years from time to time yes it does mean yellow now if you only include more and more fearful of minorities let's lower your quality let's look at your anti terrorism regulations which of so upset the un and human rights groups the international commission of jurists has consistently called for the repeal of this act which has been used it says to arbitrarily detained suspects for months and often years without charge or trial why do you keep such repressive laws in place. team from 2015 to 2019 there was a discussion of

a counter-terrorism bill the unity government which was formed by coalition of the main 2 political parties with the support of e.u. with the support of the u.s. and other countries drafted the counterterrorism proposal that is the new act but they could not just do it right so there are issues in our p.t.a. we do accept that we need to revisit our p.d. if we do our said that this long term and i mean given the same thing your time on on revisiting it you said that sri lanka has a very democratic regime no repression whatsoever these are your words but your anti terrorist laws make a nonsense of that what place does arbitrary detention without charge or trial have in a democratic country if that's what you are that's what you claim to be this is why i said we need to revisit the prevention of terrorism act and we need to draw

lessons from the best practices internationally and we are going to do that be love internally while your passing your passing new repressive legislation march the 12th this year your so called the radicalization regulations these allow for arbitrary administrative detention of people for up to 2 years without trial this is a whole mark of repression arbitrary detention without trial you say you're working on it you keep passing new regulations that are just as repressive as the old ones . well imagine the situation if we did not have the pedia after the 19001000 is the bombing we would not have been able to do anything in this country it would have been a chaos maybe somebody wanted our country to make our chaotic so i am seeing the p.d. here is in the in the topic of discussion and we are determined to revisit and we are determined to amend and also the long term detainees we need to find

a solution to that we do agree that it is wrong if i would charge to keep someone for a very long period president already given that it is for the attorney general to find a solution to this when meanwhile these regulations are in blatant violation of your international legal obligations and they violate article 13 of the surrey lankan constitution do you know what that article says. well i don't have a copy right now but what it says if i can remind you is that it guarantees freedom from arbitrary arrest detention and punishment so you're wrecking your own constitution with these new regulations but you can bottom up because. it doesn't come here in the beginning i requested you these very for another few weeks and you will come out i mean we are in this to get 1st will come out with the real picture and then the whole world will agree what has gone underneath we have only seen the

tip of the iceberg on the is the bombing but there is a whole heap of things that has happened before that and it is happening even now so things will come out in due course and just p.t. if we will we will see but there we be new legislation introduced to the country for the protection of human dignity or the short sale how many theme of yours that would that would that would make a change wouldn't because let's look at the you know the way you've been handling trials and commissions the main reason the human rights council voted against you was that you've disrupted and impeded efforts to bring justice and accountability for all sides in the civil war that's the u.n. saying that they accuse you of him in trenching impunity for grave human rights violations and abuses by all sides this is not one of the hallmarks of your state isn't it well it has nothing to do as you say because if you remember if you recall

from 2009 to 2015 there were 3 commissions appointed to find out the way forward but unfortunately.