And in europe and its response to be replicated elsewhere. First good to have you with us lawmakers in the u. S. Congress are preparing to block president Donald Trumps order to withdraw u. S. Troops from germany its a rare instance of the democratic and republican parties working together to pass legislation the final version of the annual defense bill was which still needs to be voted on voices support for the continued presence of u. S. Forces in germany and would require an Impact Assessment before any troops are removed in july the pentagon announced it would withdraw about a 3rd of the 36000 u. S. Troops based in. So how likely is it that u. S. Troops will not speak withdrawn from. Washington correspondent stephanie has actually it is very likely that there wont be any withdrawal at least not under the reigns of this administration of the triumvirate ministration as you pointed out the budget Defense Budget package which is 4500 pages that is a double whopper theyre. Saying that they 1st Want Congress senate and. House of representatives want to hear from the defense secretary in a report about if this really makes sense if this is not harming National Security and only after this report comes in and only then congress will give its ok or not and no more than 120. 00 days after this report arrives is any troop reduction possible and now you do the math this administration and as president of the United States will be 50 more days in power and then it will be joe biden and his administration and there is the expectation by many many experience and most observers see and by anybody in washington d. C. Political washington d. C. That he will revoke this this plan to pull out or pull american troops out of germany stephens even in washington joining me now from brussels is all nato correspondent terry scholz terry that was just a meeting of Foreign Ministers of nato what did you hear about this decision that. Well there has since this is a unilateral us decision it wasnt discussed openly at nato at this Foreign Ministers meeting the u. S. Can pull troops out of it wants to but if you might remember when the decision was made in the summer President Trump announced this without consulting either the German Government or secretary general yen stoltenberg so that disturbed a lot of allies and i think that one of the reasons that its not spoken about is because people are just hoping that exactly this will be the outcome that the less you talk about it the more likely it is that it wont happen we did get a bit of a preview of what stefan was explaining here from the u. S. Ambassador to nato key Bailey Hutchison she said that she expected this decision to be left to the biden ministration thats not all she said she said that unlike what President Trump announced perhaps these troops wont be going back to the u. S. At all lets hear what she had to say i want to say that the announcement about troops in germany was also an announcement that the troops all the troops that were there before would be in europe its just whether or not they stay in germany or whether they are moved to other places in certain instances so bet has been well it has been put forward but it certainly will be open for another administration to look at where it is at the time that they take over. That is quite interesting because that is not what president said he in fact indicated that he may be moving some of those troops back to the u. S. Some to poland some to italy some to belgium so it will be very interesting to see how this plays out but what looks very likely is that it will not happen under the Trump Administration and that makes it much more likely it wont happen at all. In brussels thank you for that update. Well the coming change in u. S. President s means changes in u. S. Foreign policy perhaps most dramatically in the case of israel the trumpet ministration has been a staunch ally of israeli Prime Minister benjamin his nose policies israel now faces a particularly dangerous time with iran seizing over the s s a nation of its top Nuclear Scientists and placing blame on israel with trump on the way out and tensions high the region is well could face tough times ahead its been for good years for israeli conservatives with a u. S. President who often gave them what they wanted. I repeat i just want to thank you for everything you go state of israel. The greatest threat that is. One of the trumpet ministrations 1st Foreign Policy moves was to recognize jerusalem as israels capital like many actions to come it was controversial palestinians consider East Jerusalem the capital of a future state the trumpet ministration also recognized israeli sovereignty over the contested Golan Heights region captured by israel in 1967 from syria you cant stand here in there out at whats across the border and deny the central thing the president has that previous president s had refused to do this is a part of israel a central part of israel. Under tromping israel aggressively expanded its settlements in occupied palestinian territory on the west bank the u. S. Has taken steps to legitimize those settlements as israeli land one winemaker in a contested settlement was so happy he named a one after pump a 0. U. S. Diplomacy also cleared the way for agreements between israel and longtime foes the United Arab Emirates and bahrain they came together over a common enemy. Iran which has long been considered an x. Essential threat by israeli governments the trump era saw the us walk away from the Iran Nuclear Deal which was meant to relieve sanctions on tehran in exchange for strict controls on its Nuclear Program but netanyahu bitterly opposed it saying it would allow tehran to build Nuclear Weapons without interference last week a Senior IranianNuclear Scientist was killed in an ambush on a rainy and territory tehran has blamed israel and the u. S. Protests in iran follow up with tensions so high it may be more difficult for the incoming u. S. Administration to react or the nuclear deal. As an end to the trump era that would sit some on the israeli right justified. Well joining me now the studio is germy our sacrifice israels ambassador to berlin thank you very much for coming in today my pleasure u. S. President elect joe biden has said he wants to reenter the Iran Nuclear Deal thats a deal that is supported by germany as well as the e. U. By russia and china but opposed by israel so what is israel going to do about this i think one of the most important things is to recall what he said yesterday evening about the bottom line being to stop iran getting a Nuclear Weapon and that has always been a goal i think its always been germanys goal and its always been the goal of the p 5 plus one and the Nuclear Agreement the question is how do you achieve it and one thing weve seen over the last months is very clear strength of raney and violations of the j. C. B. Way whether in terms of the amount of enrich uranium the level of enriched uranium the use of advanced centrifuges so whole string of violations alongside a very energetic and active Missile Program as well as a continued destabilizing activity in the middle east in general so you saying that the the nuclear deal is not the right instruments to achieve that goal im saying that its been seen that the nuclear deal as it was drafted into 115 has been shown to have. Gaps which need to be addressed and clearly the the steps taken by the iranian government to find the. To destabilize the middle east in general continue their Missile Program and violate the actual clear terms of the Nuclear Agreement provide us with no confidence that the agreement is well. What would what would provide you with confidence that well i think 1st of all lets be. Just ourselves to the present situation there will be theres a transition in washington and obviously im a new American Administration will have to address this itll take time to point the teams and the policies to have consultations with partners like with europe and also i would imagine also with israel so i think itll still take a bit of time to come and put the policy actual policy together so the deal is not that you say i am look we need to have an effective diplomacy which prevents iran to getting a Nuclear Weapon and that in my view is very much dependent on these consultations that will happen in the not in the weeks and months ahead to put together an effective and vibrant policy that will secure that goal but this week a top Iranian Nuclear scientist was assassinated tehran blames the attack on israel was your comment. Look you know iran blames israel for virtually every ill in the middle east and and from that point of view i think its more important to keep an eye on what iran is doing and again youre not denying it but youre not confirming it im not relating to it at all they might have their speculations and you know weve seen a number of times where theyve said things that have proven to be untrue particularly in terms of what they are supposed to be doing in terms of complying with the nuclear deal its a clear setback for iran when their top scientists is no longer around so a lot of elephant faces have back for iran when it continues to pursue a Nuclear Weapons. Activity when it continues to pursue Missile Development and when it continues to interfere in the politics of lebanon syria iraq yemen that is the key to the thing that i think is the key thing that we need to keep an eye on. Well just today israel has won its citizens in the in the region of an increased threat from iran after this attack so what intelligence is that warning based on 1st of all i remind our viewers that about 3 weeks ago the iranians placed. Improvised elects explosive devices on our border on the Golan Heights in the southern part of the Golan Heights and we identified this and weve responded so this is a very ongoing problem that we face viz of iran we face irans involvement in syria we face it its also in lebanon its support of his below providing hizbullah with very extensive weaponry so you know this is you know this is an on going. Problem that we have an ongoing threat which is not just an abstract thing it happens on the ground so i mean obviously at this time were taking every precaution possible. In every possible way and this is this is something that were being very clear as an ambassador to germany can germany and the e. U. Help maintain stability in the middle east and with regard to iran especially. Well 1st of all i think they can and i think its been very interesting that the 1st 2 visits of the Israeli Foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi brought after the new government was established was to germany was to berlin the 1st to meet with heiko musses counterpart who we see is a great friend of israel and who just also recently improved germanys voting record in the un he also met at the same time with 26 other Foreign Ministers of europe and the 2nd time he came in met with his u. A. E. Counterpart for the 1st bilateral trilateral meeting between between us so i think this was this was a very clear example of how germany can contribute to the new paradigm shift the process of normalization of peace in the middle east which is happening as opposed to the more negative threats that weve discussed before where you just mentioned that the in the past couple months weve seen some landmark peace agreements israel and middle Eastern Countries other any other agreements in the pipeline what about saudi arabia well you know i think 1st of all i think this obviously is an open ended process it is extended from the u. A. E. To bahrain to sudar and i sincerely hope that it will also move further along i think its difficult to put a stop schedule to that i dont think these type of. Breakthroughs would have happened without a measure of. Agreement from the saudis so were patient to see how we can evolve these things dont happen from one date of the next their processes which take quite a while at the Trump Administration was instrumental of course in these. Agreements trump remains very popular in israel how do you see relations with the u. S. Under the new incoming president but 1st of all i have served in washington twice and met with the president elect biden i see. I am as a great friend of israel and i think that any administration comes in has a strong realize that the need for a strong the continuation of the Strategic Partnership with israel i think there will also be supportive of this new normalization process and also the peace treaties that we have with egypt and Jordan Jordan and now with these other countries and i think theyll also be very cognizant of the threats that we and our neighbors face in the face of iran and other problems like Hizbollah Isis and etc so i think that you know this. As i said i think president elect biden has also pointed a very strong Foreign Policy team that we have had contact with before and i have every confidence that we will continue to to work through to strengthen the relationship between us in a very consistent way germanys acros israels ambassador to germany thank you very much for joining us here on the ws today thank you very much time now to have a look at some of the other stories that are making headlines around the world today in peru at least one person has been killed during protests by farm workers demanding better wages and working conditions protesters blocked highways and clashed with police attempting to disperse them or Cultural Workers have been on strike since monday protests have spread northward to regions known for growing grapes tangerines and blueberries. Bangladesh has started moving will hinge refugees to a new offshore count around 1600 muslims who had fled myanmar sale the board navy ships to the island which was previously uninhabited the un says the refugees should decide freely whether to relocate them bangladesh currently hosts more than a 1000000 are all hinge on mostly in overcrowded refugee camps. New video has been released showing that a collapse of the r. C. Will observe a tree on the island of puerto rico one of the Worlds Largest radio telescope. Suspension cables finally gave way on the summer 1st the facility was completed in 1963 and took part in numerous astronomical discovers calming it well leaders have been holding a special session of the Un General Assembly focusing on covert 19 it coincides with the release of a un study according to the un findings 10 years from now more than 1000000000 people could be living in extreme poverty due to the long term effects of the coronavirus pandemic as many countries around the world remain in crisis mode china both the steady record of success and curbing covert 19 sorties there reported less than 20 new cases in the last 24 hours thats according to local media no new deaths were reported on thursday. In china signs of the corona virus pandemic are hardly noticeable Authorities Say there are only a couple 100 active cases and next to no new daily concerns. We have no evidence right now that the situation in china is anything other than extremely low levels all over the virus with a very aggressive response to only. Just. The moment some individuals test positive the authorities react by doing mass testing in the area thats why recently in the port city of tianjin 2300000 inhabitants were tested before that nearly 5000000 in cash car and in the city of qingdao Authorities Say more than 10000000 people were tested in just a few days. Its a big effort and in the end a few dozen people are found who test positive and are immediately isolated furthermore china has strict entry rules foreigners can only enter in exceptional cases and anyone who does must get tested and cornered for 14 days. Beijings head of epidemiology says the priorities for curbing the coronavirus are clear kanya. Hiding the pandemic is like a war whew have to be quick he thought everyone bands together you can be strong and women in that sense the right strategy and strong leadership on health. Child need an involved. Everyone is required to download a state sponsored health app only those who show a green light can enter many places authorities are not forthcoming about how accurate the apps are hong kong epidemiologist bank collings has china can use tactics not easily used elsewhere. Is very clear what the cause was of the test in Mainland China a positive case is isolated to house or contacts a quarantine everythings done very very strictly and that brings an end to transmission now forced people to stay at home in isolation according to a they wont it will be recommended. In order for chinese authorities every positive coronavirus case is one too many they react quickly and everyone is expected or rather required to cooperate. Have a look now at some of the other developments in the corona virus pandemic joe biden says hell ask americans to wear a mask for 100. 00 days once he becomes u. S. President the south korean capital seoul is imposing a 9 pm curfew almost establishment after the city reported nearly 300 new cases of the virus in one day and germany has reported more than 23000 new infections thats on the highest rates in europe just after russia and italy. With the spike in cases italy is tightening restrictions over the Holiday Season the decision was announced as the country recorded its highest daily death toll since the start of the pandemic from an associate at the content said that from december 21st until january 6th movement between regions will be banned except of work medical treatment all in the Agency Christmas day boxing day and millions day italians will not be able to leave the towns where they live making it impossible for many extended families to meet. Italys approach stands in contrast to many other countries over the festive period we asked our correspondents around the world whats happening whether. Christmas will not become so this in bethlehem said to be the birthplace of jesus but it will be completely different because of the corona pandemic everything here is much quieter just in front of the church of the nativity this is usually the busiest time of the year for the palestinian town then no foreign visitors because israel is still banning foreigners some entering the country and the occupied territories as well it is unclear whether Palestinian Christians from other parts of the west bank in israel will be able to take part in the festivities the Palestinian Authority has recently imposed a new nighttime lockdown to help curb a new spike in infection rates but was celebrations will be severely back people here say they still want to send a message of hope from bethlehem to the rest of the world i mean the cities i call it on the i think its crowded bus if you look closely. Social distancing almost sounds a little strange yet there is very Little Community transmission and so the relief of many of the restrictions on using its time to process public countrys International Borders for the politics while this Festive Season will be overshadowed by the pandemic strain that success in virtually starting up on this means may. Beginning to see the light up you get the tunnel going to be nice to sort of get back together with everyone you know a lot of people are going separated for a while and definitely have my period where i can see my family so ill definitely be sort of centering on not for show i was planning on sleeping here at all assuming im going home but yeah even here i definitely think its changed. Its going to be a little bit easier i think just because im restrictions are kind of relax a little but earlier on and yeah i was really worried about if i was going to be able to travel to my friends here in australia now we can have more people each time its a big bed and it will get better and better than. 23 weeks like. Ok christmas and new years night all this family celebrations in my a child during the soviet union people get together for a meal at home watch soviet films and eat but in the last few years that changed and russians discovered street festivals this year everything has to change again because mass meetings outside are prohibited new years night will be intimate and small again just like in my childhood with one exception which is ice skating is it remains a lot in moscow this year despite the pandemic from my point of view the most beautiful place for it is here in the legendary gorky park. Here surely we all get together as a big family with our parents too but this time were avoiding them because theyre senior so unfortunately well celebrate without them and you. Can imagine its probably out because it changed our plans we wanted to go skiing in europe but now were going to sochi probably with about 20000000 other muscovites. But yeah im going to celebrate at my cabin as usual coronavirus doesnt really change anything for me. And some sports news now i think of football to be precise balance bragging rights on the line this evening as. Faces rivals union in the bonus league when the teams last went head to head back in may how to celebrate or just something for nil. Wind this time on your nawa way ahead of the neighbors in the table and go into the game a slight favorites fans will not be able to 10 but thats not preventing tensions rising in the days leading up to the match. Its eerily empty round by head to berlins olympia study on these days on friday night the berlin darby will once again take place behind closed doors the hosts have had to get creative in their efforts to generate an atmosphere we have all these are the reason why we distributed several dozen 1000 flags around the city in the middle of the night was to create a bit of darby feverfew a darby atmosphere. On tuesday but lynn is woke up to a city littered with hats of flags like here beneath the west berlin icon known as the be a brush. Concerts he thought a good idea was that fans could take the flags home with them and then get into the through with us on friday evening in front of the television. Sure enough the flags were gone by wednesday morning but it wasnt only had the families whose had a hand in their disappearance this or new one supporter posted his interpretation of the atmosphere on twitter. Only owned by laid off flying high at the moment thanks in large part to this man summer signing max kusa has provided plenty of goals like this wonder strike against frankfurt last weekend but also plenty of Infectious Energy and confidence even on your own opponents cant help but admire the fine form that the 32 year old has found. That is hes a player who sees himself in every position sometimes up front sometimes in midfield he drops state he moves out wide so trying to mock him with just one man would never work in its up to the whole team and i wasnt much of if labadee as men can keep cool in check theyll have a solid chance of defending their title the crown of the capital city champions is off the rule currently there is to lose but fridays result will determine whos flag flies above. Youre watching t w news from berlin thats it for me and the news team up next stephen visit as all the business headlines for you so dont go away and gals as invalid thank you very much for watching. The to. Get. To the point sean opinion is a clear position some International Perspective submersible can the fragile peace just declared in ethiopia the great prophets be sustained in his Prime Minister ill be op ed from the nobel peace laureate till now the war thats our topic on to look. At the bottom of the point the biggest 60 minutes on g. W. The boy to this person who says her above there are the but there is a lot that can be done the big make up your mind the best. We know this is a scary time for the coronavirus is changing the world changing. So please take care of yourself good. To wash your hands if you can stay at how were doing when you are here for you were working tirelessly to keep you informed on all of our platforms. In this you get on together to make it. Still you say you havent gone Stacey Stacey stay safe please stay safe. All eyes are on a vaccine roll out of several candidates nearing large scale approval questions about distribution remain can supply chains deliver can they be protected and can they reach around the world. Also on the show the euro hits a 2 and a half year high gets a basket of currencies we can dollar is partly responsible look at where things could be headed. And more bad news for sentiments as Warner Brothers says it will come your all of next years movies on a streaming service