♪ hello -- ♪ brent: this is dw news, live from berlin. he is going to prison. alexey navalny is sentenced to more than three years behind bars. a moscow court found that he violated the terms of his probation while he was here and terminat -- here in germany, in a coma after the attack. scientists say russia's sputnik

v vaccine is safe and effective against covid-19. early trial results were published today in the lancet. active activists in the u.s. -- activists in the u.s. demonstrate. -- finally reunite migrant children taken away from their parents. ♪ brent: i'm brent goff. to our viewers watching on pbs, in the united states and around the world, welcome. we begin tonight in moscow, where alexey navalny has been sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. he was detained last month for violating the terms of his probation. he failed to check in with authorities, because he was here in germany, recovering from a near fatal poisoning, which he

blames on the kremlin. today's ruling has sparked an international outcry. reporter: the only goodbye alexey navalny could manage, his wife, before he heads to prison. he told the court the charges were fabricated, a way of intimidating his supporters. >> all of these officers, it is not a show of strength. it shows their weakness. they are weak. they cannot jail thousands, or even millions of people. reporter: outside, the cavalry arrived early in the morning. lines of riot police stood in front of the court, not to keep alexey navalny in, but his supporters out. reporter: there's a huge police presence in the whole

neighborhood around the court where alexey navalny is being tried today. these police vans stand at the ready for new arrests. reporter: as the day progressed, police detained hundreds of alexa navalny's supporters, who had come to show their solidarity. age was no barrier to that. here, a small act of defiance. navalny, in duplicate, arrest and these people's eyes is a small parts to pay -- a small price to pay. >> four hours in a police station. i believe it is a cost for my opinion. >> he was almost killed. he shouldn't be in prison, for the reason that they couldn't kill him. reporter: as evening fell, the

heavy police presence remains. navalny's lawyer said they would be appealing diverted to the european court of human rights. brent: what does today's sentencing mean for russian democracy? to talk about that, we want to bring in roman d., the editor of the russian of website, the insider. he's also one of the investigators into alexa navalny's poisoning. it's good to have you on the program. -- alexey navalny's poisoning. it's good to have you on the program. if president putin wanted to get rid of alexey navalny once and for all, he could have had him sentenced to prison for 20-30 years, but he didn't. how do you explain that? >> well, because he doesn't want to have a very big outreach. -- very big outrage. this small sentence of two point

five years -- 3.5 years means smaller terms for everybody here in russia. putin wants to keep his power forever. there's no doubt about that. we see people are still outraged. we see thousands of people right now going to protest in moscow and st. petersburg, dozens of other cities. this is a pretty big challenge in russia. we have been waiting for this moment for many years. we understood sooner or later, navalny would be in prison. brent: what happens now? navalny is in prison. the leader of the opposition is behind bars. >> yes. so nobody knows. we are all wondering this. this fight between civil society and the government.

i don't know, turkmenistan, north korea on, peop will win, and we will s them accredit changes. -- see democratic cnges. we see repressions becoming tougher and tougher. there's nothing in the middle. it will be either a cotillion country -- a totalitarian country, or there will be many protests. brent: what would you like to see the european union do here? i ask that, maybe you can answer this question, as well, do you worry the coronavirus vaccine crisis in europe will spell doom for navalny's hope for help, because the russians now have a coronavirus vaccine to offer? >> no, it sounds funny. the sputnik vaccine is not the

thing that can be seen as an effective trade between the west and russia. but yeah, the direction is very important. we see this direction is tough. biden, macron, all of them will have a very tough stance here. but i don't think pin is worrying about foreign reputation after he poisoned navalny, etc. he only wores about protests inside the country. of crse, it is good althou european countries are united in one position against this arrest of navalny, against the authoritian trend in russia, but this is not enough. sanctios will be very tough. there will be no nordstream, no swift -- these bank accounts.

all of that will not stop putin from dng what he's doi. brent: roman, and investigate a journalist in moscow, we appreciate your time and your insights tonight. thank you. russia's sputnik vika vaccine is about 92% -- sputnik v covid vaccine is about 92% effective, just published in the medical journal, the lancet, based on data involving a trial involving nearly 20,000 people. researchers also found new serious side effects associated with its use. the russian vaccine consists of two common cold viruses that have been modified to carry the virus spike protein. it can be stored at up to eight degrees celsius, making it much easier to transport than the biontech-pfizer vaccine. in an interview on german television, chancellor merkel today raised the possibility of

the sputnik v vaccine being used here in the eu. >> we have always said we welcome anyone who puts in an application for approval from the european medicines agency. i have spoken with the russian president about exactly this. today, we saw some good data about the russian vaccine. every vaccine is welcome in the eu. but only those that have provided the necessary data to the ema can be approved. brent: i want to pull in now a professor of virology, who reviewed the russian clinical results we can read in the lancet. it is good to have you on the program. were you@@ surprised at how strg these results were, and how effective this vaccine is? >> well, i was not really surprised, because i knew the vaccines were made of two

different viruses. it would be baffert that a single adenovirus. so i was pleased to see that, what i thought was going to happen. brent: -- variants, what about the variants to the virus? >> with the variants, we know it is not going to be difficult for any of these good vaccines to combat that. particularly, neutralizing antibodies, virus neutralizing antibodies, at a strong, high-level, most variants will be no problem. these vaccines, it seems like they would have very good antibodies against the virus. i think the variants will be fine. unless, it tremendously changes later on. but so far, these viruses do not look like they change a lot.

so i think they will be protected, yes. brent: let me ask you, this sputnik v vaccine from russia has been viewed with suspicion by a lot of people, because it has come from russia. was that justified? should it end now? >> the problem was before, because they published very quickly. the publicized the people in the second phase of the vaccine efficacy test. that is why many people did not like it. not all the data was very clear at that time. but this paper in the lancet clearly shows this vaccine data very clearly, and very strong data. there's no doubt it is a very good vaccine. i think people will start to appreciate that soon. brent: do you think it should be used here in the european union?

>> absolutely. why not? why not? brent: let me ask you -- >> we are using the johnson & johnson vaccine, they are all in virus based anyway -- all in virus -- all adenovirus -based anyway. brent: well those that are ethnically diverse will need to approach the vaccine with some caution -- will those that are ethnically diverse need to approach the vaccine witsome caution? >> i don't think so. i think a good vaccine is a good vaccine for everybod viruses really do not know what color or whatever. mainly, diabetics, those with

vascular disease, those are the people who have a problem with infection, due to the covid infection. but i think the vaccine will be fun for everybody. because it is not the covid virus. it is just one spike protein for every vaccine. how you deliver the spike, that is the point. i didn't see any problem with that. brent: professor, we appreciate your time and your insights tonight. thank you. brent: a positive analysis there, but countries across the european union are scrambling to ramp up their immunization campaigns amid criticism over slow progress. last month for example, belgium announced a new vaccination strategy that would allow it to move more quickly. how is the rollout progressing there? our correspondent has this report. reporter: it takes just six seconds.

i shot in the arm tt could ve a life. -- a shot in the arm that cod save a le. here at the first vaccination center in belgium, doctors, dentists, and nurses about 50 years old are receiving the moderna covid-19 vaccine. general practitioners are next in line after care home residency and hospital staff. so far, belgium's immization campaign seems slow and sady. but vaccinators here say things uld gouch faster. >> the biggest challenge is always receiving enough vaccines. today, we can only vaccinate 150 people per day five days a week, because we didn't receive any more vaccines than that. our goal is to be able to vaccinate 900 people every day, seven days a week. reporter: so far, no one here knows one more vaccines will be delivered. people wait half an hour after the injection in case of allergic reactions. this general practitioner just

received his first dose. for him, it is all about patience. >> i don't think it is very ow, because the fact that we have a lot of people to vaccinate, for that reason, we have the impression that it's verylow. but i think the organization is very good. reporter: after the jab, immunity levels build up over a couple of weeks, but it is straight back to work for general practitioner, maria christine lacroix. keep your mask and your distance, that is her message. in four weeks, she will be back for her second dose. in a small country badly hit by the coronavirus, the hope is that vaccination offers a way ahead. brent: here are some of the

her stories making headlines around the world. myanmar's new military government held its first cabinet meeting since seizing power. the country's top general described monday's coup is inevitable. they are holding an emergency session to discuss the coup, that's been condemned by governments around the world. six people have died, including five young children in a shooting in the u.s. state of oklahoma. an armed suspect was taken into custody by authorities. authorities have not identified a motive for the killings. police in istanbul detained dozens of people today, as they protested against a government loyalist who has been appointed to lead a top turkish university. officers used tear gas to disperse a crowd that was estimated to be in several hundred -- several hundred.

it had been known as a bastion of liberal education. dw's correspondent, julia hahn, was at today's protest. reporter: protesters have gathered regardless of police warnings in istanbul. there's a massive police presence. the students are not allowed to hold the demonstration. policebrent: we apologize for te problem. i did's biden's plan for

immigration reform was one of his biggest promises to the immigrant community in the u.s.. many u.s. citizens voted for him, expecting a radical break from trump's policies of come in a lysing undocumented migrants -- of criminalizing migrants. he has put an end to what is called a muslim travel ban. the nearly and operated u.s. president is aiming to keep his biggest promise to immigrant committees. our correspondent is standing by for us. good evening to you, carolina. how is president biden planning to reform u.s. immigration law? lots of presidents have tried and failed. what is it going to do that's making a difference? >> there are already a couple of things that president biden has done. for example, revoking the construction of the wall in the southern border of the u.s..

today, he is planning to sign more executive orders on immigration, as he said. this was an attempt to roll back the punishments for undocumented immigrants that were created to bring trumpet ministration, like the fact that more than 5000 children were separated from their parents at the mexican border. you might remember those pictures, of hundreds of children behind fences and in a shelter at the border and to the terrible conditions. there are still at least 600 children that have not been reunited with their families. it is a huge logistic and missed a get of challenge to find their families and to bring them together -- investigative challenge to find their families and to bring them together. that is why there will be a task force for family unification. biden will also sign in order to change the policies of asylum in the u.s. that the trumpet minister should required, that some of the people looking for refuge here in the u.s. stay in mexican territory while they are

cases -- while their cases are being decided. biden wants to change that, as well. ♪ reporter: solidarity. that is what brings them together, even on a cold day amid the pandemic. it is the fourth anniversary of the muslim travel ban and posed by former president donald trump, now revoked by one of president biden's first executive orders. >> from the get-go, this should have never been made -- this band should have never been made. it is fear mongering and hate. -- this ban should have never been made. it is fear mongering and hate. >> i am here in support of all of us. we are demanding to the white house, congress, president biden we need justice for erybody, meaning no muslim man ever-- ban ever. reporter: president joe biden

has been in office for less than two weeks, but organizations already getting together in order to support his ambitious immigration reform. if passed by congress, this reform would include the path for citizenship for more than a million a document immigrant. many of them are already living in the u.s., for decades. she arrived from bolivia to the u.s. with her two sons 20 years ago and has never been home since. her sons do not know any other country than their own, the u.s. they were granted legal status by the dream act, but do not still have a u.s. citizenship. >> it is hard to be an immigrant here. it is painful. it is said. it is hard work. -- it is sad. it is hard work. reporter: she arrived with a tourist visa and never left. i document it immigrants like her account for 5% of the workforce in the u.s.. they are part of the backbone of the economy, doing the domestic

work for many american families. >> we pay taxes here, but we don't get any help from the government. absolutely nothing. we are also in the middle of a terrible crisis right w. any of us -- many of us are also losing our homes, our income, our jobs. reporter: because of the pandemic, ingrid has lost her main source of income. now, she has also lost her home. because she cannot pay the rent anymore. but she ss what hurts the most is not to be able to visit her family. >> it is difficult to visit our countries, because if we leave, we will not be allowed to enter again. reporter: one main source of hope and comfort is the church. an important meeting place for many a -- for many immigrants, even amidst the pandemic. >> if the u.s. wants to talk

about democracy and human rights, the need to start here, atome -- they need to start here, at home. reporter: for many immigrants, solidarity and the will to fight have grown even stronger despite the pandemic and the trump administration's policies. for those hoping to become an american citizen, that hope now has a name -- joe biden. brent: we just heard about the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the u.s. many of them have put their hopes in president biden. what are his chances of winning over congress for immigration reform? >> that is a very good question. as you know, the democrats have a majority in the house of represented's, so the biggest challenge will be for biden to get this bill through the senate. but in order to pass the senate, he will need in the democrats will need at least 60 senators to vote in favor of this

immigration bill. this means immigrants will definitely need to supportive republicans to pass this immigration bill, that includes a path to set a ship for 11 million document it immigrants -- citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants and your technologies to control the southern border. this will depend on the senate. this means biden will probably have to negotiate on this bill with republicans, and he will possibly have to make some changes in his bill in order to get it through, if he gets it through at all. brent: carolina, thank you. some sad news tonight -- captain moor, as he raised money for u.k. health care workers during the pandemic, he has passed away. the world war ii veteran died today at the age of 100 after

contracting covid-19. due to other medications he was taking, he was unable to take the coronavirus vaccine. reporter: during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, captain tom set up to raise 1000 pounds for britain's national health service by walking 100 laps of his -- in his backyard before his 100th birthday. his quest went viral, and donations poured in from around the world, totaling some 33 million pounds. he told dw how stunned he was. >> i think it is absolutely amazing citizens raised this amount of money in such a short time. to raise this sort of money is absolutely amazing. reporter: by the arrival of his centennial birthday, captain tom

was an international celebrity. he wrote an autobiography, which he dedicated to all those who serve on the frontline of any battle. at windsor castle, queen elizabeth ii knighted him for what he had accomplished with his walks. his sunny attitude during the pandemic has inspired people to look beyond their illness and loss. >> i think throughout the world, it's been very difficult for so ma people. there is no immediate sign of a finishing, but i wou say to everyone, things will get better, there's no doubt that one day, we ould be all out onto the bar side and the sun will be shining again. brent: the sun will be shining again. here's a reminder of the top story we are following for you -- a russian court sentenced opposition leader, alexey navalny, to 3.5 years in prison.

the court ruled the kremlin critic violated the terms of his probation on earlier fraud charges, while he was here in germany recovering from a poisoning attack. navalny's lawyers say they plan to appeal the decision. you are watching dw news, live from berlin. after a short break, i will be back to take you through "the day." stick around. we will be right back. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org]

"france 24"

correspondents around the world. >> welcome to life in paris, world news and analysis from "france 24". i'm mark owen. these are the headlines. street protests as a moscow court convicts alexei navalny, sentenced to 2 1/2 years for violating his patrol while out of the country with presidential approval to undergo treatment in germany for nerve agent poisoning. opposition to the military coup in mnmar is making itself heard. residents calling for the release of the de facto