To guard against a 2nd wave of infections. And. The u. S. Consulate in the. The u. S. In Houston Texas. Welcome to the program istanbuls highest afia as open for muslim friday prayers for the 1st time in more than. It follows a controversial decree from turkish president. To turn the former museum back into a mosque himself was in attendance along with several 100 invitees originally a cathedral the building has stood at the heart of istanbul for 1500 years. President personally began friday prayers with a recitation from the koran this is the 1st time muslim friday prayers have been held in the hog use of fia for 86 years just 2 weeks ago turkeys highest Administrative Court canceled the building status as a museum then ordered it to be used as a mosque despite covert 1000 thousands of believers began gathering outside the istanbul landmark last night just for us its a symbol of islam or rather the hockey is a few years symbolizes the victory of islam over christianity. Thanks to our revered president trichet type won and more importantly i think god we can finally pray here again. Critics say the transformation of it takes the country one step further away from a secular turkey and they say heir to one is using this to score points with conservative voters and distract from domestic political problems Harsh Criticism also came from many Church Figures among them pope francis and turkeys Orthodox Christian neighbor greece eunice expressed concerns about whether the world Cultural Heritage status of the will be endangered. But i guess you have to understand the symbolism of. It is for many people here in turkey the old symbol of the muslim autumn and conquest of Christian Constantine ople that is how istanbul was called back then and many people say they have been longing for this to happen for the past decade basically since the i. S. O. Feo was turned into a museum 86 years ago by takis out safely. And im with him now everyone knows about the symbolism but it seems that is also help him helping him politically he clearly seems to assume so right now his popularity ratings are not looking very good the turkish economy has suffered a lot during the coronavirus pandemic so for add on the eye is the fear of some kind of a joke or crowd here is posed now to rally behind him hes a conservative islamic base. People arriving from abroad at germanys airports ought to be offered free tests for the coronavirus the decision by federal and state Health Ministers means that immediate testing will be available for those coming from coronavirus hotspots people returning from big cations in countries not deemed specially at risk from the disease will also be offered tests but away from my ports infection rates in germany remain low at the moment but that often that could change as people return after the holiday season. For more lets bring in our Political Correspondent hans pronged who is monitoring this story for us lets just get something clear this is all going to be free but these tests are not going to be mandatory is that right. Yes that is correct there was some members of this discussion today amongst the leaders of the germanys 16 federal states who were pushing for the mandatory for these tests to be made mandatory but at the moment there is no basis in law for being able to do that they are trying to create such a basis of law but at the moment the tests are voluntary but it means at the moment the regulations are such that if you return from what is regarded as a risk area risk country and that includes 130. 00 countries around the world including countries such as the United States israel or turkey if you return from one of those countries you know obliged to go into quarantine for 2 weeks thats a quarantine that is monitored by your local Health Authorities so you go to your home town the local home Problem Health authority is informed that you are returning from a risk area and they then monitor your quarantine if you do not want to go into such a quarantine then you can do a test and that test will be for free you can do it immediately at the airport and if you return a negative test if you do not have the virus then you do not have to go into quarantine thats the advantage of doing the test right now and what about people who have already conducted the test potentially at the at the port at which they are in banking on their journey with those test results be a pickle in germany ive not seen any news about that any statement about that so i doubt very much that those will simply be accepted the German Authorities i am magine would want to reassure themselves with their own testing and their reliability you might say that a person that is arriving in germany from such an area in fact is covered 19 negative this was about. Hans what about people entering germany by ship bus or train. Yes indeed all people who coming into germany from such areas can take such a test there will not be test centers at the ports of entry in other words not at the harbors or at border posts or a train stations but people can go to testing stations in their hometowns at some doctors or possibly at Health Authorities and have a test taken there also for free this is in fact applies also to anybody entering germany who feels that they might need a test or might have been in a situation that could have been risky the Health Ministers the ministers of the various regions are appealing to peoples sense of responsibility saying that they need to take these tests in order to make sure that they do not carry the virus into germany because infection rates are increasing again here in germany on spawn thank you very much for that. Now does all the other stories making news around the world face coverings have now become mandatory in shops and takeaway food outlets in england it also applies to other enclosed spaces so just transport hubs and Shopping Centers mosques are already compulsory it enclosed Public Places in many other European Countries including germany. Us President Donald Trump has cancelled the floated up portion of next months Republican NationalConvention Trump said the flare up of good one of us cases in the states meant it was not the right time to hold the event the convention was expected to draw more than 10000. 00 people. And in thailand protesters have set fire to images of the countrys Prime Minister for you to john and his deputy public opposition to prosecute has been growing in recent months protesters want his government to step down saying it came to power after an unfailing action last year. China has ordered the United States to close one of its consulates in a tit for tat move the Foreign Ministry has given u. S. Officials 72 hours to leave the consulates in the southwestern city of chengdu it comes after washington told beijing to shut its Diplomatic Mission in Houston Texas this week relations between the 2 are the lowest in 40 years. It was less a question of if china would retaliate but rather how and the answer is the u. S. Has been told to close its chain to. Raising the stakes yet further and this diplomatic standoff. The Current Situation in china u. S. Relations is not what china wants and the u. S. Is completely responsible for all of this. All of this includes the u. S. Imposing sanctions on communist Party Officials and companies linked to the mass detention of weaker and china to shut its mission in houston citing concerns about. The clear is under way the president even full to the potential to cut diplomatic ties completely. As far as closing additional embassies its always possible it marks the biggest fallout since Richard Nixon renewed relations in the seventys when he extended the 100 friendship. All the more significant then the u. S. Secretary of state would head to the former republicans President Library to all but declare a new cold war with the c. C. P. The kind of engagement weve been pursuing the kind of change inside of china the president nixon had hoped to induce. The truth is that our policies and those of other free nations resurrected chinas failing economy only to see beijing by the International Hands that were feeding it. We opened our arms to chinese citizens only to see the Chinese CommunistParty Support our free and open society. Back in 2017 when donald trump and she. Occasionally sparred over trade no theyre even farther apart it may be a long time before theyre ruling out the red carpet for each other again. Meanwhile German Authorities have confirmed the release of mavis a german. Who was abducted by iraqi militants this week in a Statement Foreign minister expressed his belief that he thanked the iraqi authorities for freeing freeing mavis and said she was now in the care of the German Embassy in bug. Was kidnapped by gunmen outside her office in the capital on monday the German National is a well known figure in your arms and program for young iraqis shes also known as an outspoken critic of the government it remains unclear who was behind the kidnappings iraqi Authorities Say theyre investigating for more im joined now by. Who is a close friend of mavis huge and joins us from bug have you been in contact with this since certain news. Well i tried to call her but her son is still out there i couldnt protect her again we just heard that she was released and the Security Forces program is new supports theres not its not in the days leading up to her kidnapping and a mavis had expressed fear for her safety and you have also you also said the dear friend was concerned for her safety why exactly was she wanted. You know they can not being became like a product of a lot of daily life in baghdad. And this one this incident actually. Maybe you will l o l waking the big Global Market whats going on. We are in fear every day because my stuff our quakes had been i got kidnapped or are there had been treating so they left this city. We have very several journalists who. Are critics near baghdad and theyre staying in kurdistan they cannot come here because they had her seems many spirits. And then i think that actually shes a public figure she know many of you punch you had good criminal action to iraqis we considered her like you but you got the. President and she know on that basis you know they all know brings a record even though that maybe you want to ban people who live here so. It was a shot across i know on their last since 2000 tents since he visited baghdad for the 1st time and she was interesting raising this and. Shes president year in since right years ago and the people around him and care and district know her very well in human my hair a bicycle and she has she. You know or of hearts help or hundreds of a young artists. She described the hair and the local and you are kept here and providing training sessions and many kinds of skills for children for for other people yes. Thank you so much for speaking to us from. Thank you youre watching the news live from berlin the special with monica jones is on