Today and always. The freeman foundation. By judy and Peter Blum Kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for americas neglected needs. And by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Tty i am katty kay in washington and this is bbc world news america. Back to wuhan, we are in the city where it all started. Did the coronavirus come from this market or did it not . A kiss and tell book from inside the trump white house. A former advisor claimed President Trump asked china to help him get reelected. Distracted, overloaded, stressed out, thats how my brain feels, what about yours . A look at how covid is affecting our great matter gray matter. Katty welcome to bbc world news america. As of today, more than 8 Million People around the world have been infected with the coronavirus. Almost half a million have died. If somebody told you that back in december, you may not have believed them. Back then, the coronavirus was a disease with a curious name in a city none of us had heard of. Tonight we go back to wuhan where our correspondent is looking at the source of the virus that changed our world. John wuhan, ground zero. A city of 11 Million People, through the streets of which an unseen silent killer took its first steps late last year. And where the cemeteries hold the first of all victim to its deadly effects to fall victim of its deadly effects. Six months on, the origin of the virus is still unclear. Most scientists believes chinas wet markets should be the focus. The virus, noted to come from bats, was likely passed from humans. Do people in wuhan eat wildlife . We dont have customs like that, he says. Across town, this market, connected to some of the first virus cases, has been closed. Wild animals were treated here, but the testing of samples has now ruled it out as the source. [speaking foreign language] john but theres another theory. For more than a decade,uhan has been at the forefront of a major project to collect that viruses from remote chinese caves. As a result, there are few buildings in the world surrounded by as much controversy as this one. But the center of the u. S. President s accusation that the virus leaked from a lab. Inside, researchers have been studying coronavirus, and sometimes genetically altering them to better understand how pandemics might arrive. While the Lab Leak Theory is dismissed by the Chinese Government and some scientists as an outstanding conspiracy. We are told to stop filming. On state tv, the lab has dismissed the allegations of a leak. [speaking foreign language] translator this is pure fabrication. We received a sample on the 30th of december. Before that, we did not ev know it existed. How could it have leaked from our lab when we never had it . John scientists have looked at the structure of the virus it self. In particular, its protein spikes, which are unusually good for a coronavirus of this type, binding to human cells. This analysis by five experts in the field finds that it was not purposely manipulated. We do not believe that any type of laboratorybased scenario is possible, it says. A conclusion now widely accepted. To deny a possibility when a scientist should always keep an open mind. John some Scientists Say its based in part on accepting the labs denials. One of the possibilities has to be that this came out of a lab. Its a possibility. We cannot say its not. And for my colleagues to say its not, i am astounded. No one has proved a negative here. John china has been developing and origin. Of its own, with state media and officials suggesting it may have come from elsewhere. Its an idea gaining traction in wuhan. It came from the u. S. , this man says. They have tested the sequences, the u. S. Had it first. A former communist Party Official died of coronavirus in january. On the banks of wuhans eastlake, i meet his son. He is angry at inas handling of the outbreak, but says calls for inquiry offer hope. [speaking foreign language] translator if china or the u. S. Investigate, the final result will come from a group of politicians. It will be a report infected by politics. The origin of the virus is now meaningless to me. Hojohn with wuhans lockdown receding into memory, the limits of science and the demands of politics may mean the biggest question is never answered, where did the virus come from . Katty the view from wuhan, seven months on. Some countries have the disease under control while others are struggling. We were we will hear about the situation in brazil and america. Stephen mcdonald has the latest from beijing where authorities are locking down as infections rise again. Stephen what a month thousand 200 flights into and out of beijing have been canceled. Longdistance bus service is stopped, schools closed again, let, businesses and Government Departments remain open. Authorities are hoping that a targeted response will help them stop a fullblown second wave without having to completely shut down the city of more than 20 million peoe. Every few days brazil hit another grim milestone. Last week it surpassed the uks death toll with over 45,000. In the past 24 hours they have registered nearly 35,000 new cases. There is only a matter of days before it hits one million infections. What is the government doing about it . Very lite. The president continues not to say much. When he does, he tries to play down the virus. One of his officials said ttry. They tried to deflect the criticism of the handling of the crisis by saying the country is big, and when you look athe inhabitants, the numbers are better than they are in places like the u. K. And belgium. The World Health Organization says brazil is a major concern. Cities like here in sao paulo and rio, they are starting to open back up. Scientists are warning the country is not yet through the worst of it. Once the epicenter of the epidemic, and you are has one of the lowest infection rates. Once quiet streets are buzzing back withife, but nowhere near back to normal. Restrictions are slowly easing. The mayor says Outdoor Dining wont be allowed until july. Across the nation, coronavirus cases are on the rise, with hotspots in the south and southwest. Infection rates hit record highs in six states, including oklahoma, where President Trump plans to hold a rally on saturday. In texas, restaurants were forced to close after recently reopening at 75 percent capacity. In oregon, 200 new cases were linked to a church. While the Trump Administration has argued that the rising infections is due to more testing, hospitalization rates are also reaching highs. Across the nation, cases could continue to rise in august and september, assuming schools reopened. Katty that is the global view, a pretty mixed picture. But one county in one state here in america is a perfect microcosm of why its so hard to stop the spread of the virus. Montgomery county, alabama has seen a surge of new infections. Doctors warn hospitals are struggling to cope. Some local lawmakers are pushing to make it mandatory to wear fa masks in public. On tuesday, their measure failed to pass the county council after a debate during which doctors pleaded for those compulsory Face Coverings. The cdc unequivocally says Wearing Masks decreases the shed of the virus. But until you actually mandate, because people dont believe the hype, we wont be able to stop it. Katty that Council Members who voted against the measure questioned whether masks do help and insisted that Constitutional Rights should be protected. I think this is an overreach of government. I think to make somebody do something, or require somebody to wear something,s overreach. For that, i cannot support it. Katty that mandatory mask ordinance was proposed by councilman cornelius calhoun. He joins me from montgomery, alabama. He for we get to the mask ordinance, i want you to tell us how bad are things in Montgomery County at the moment . Councilman calhoun things are really that in montgomery. As i look at the numbers today, we are up about 1033 cases within the first three weeks in june. We leave the state right now in covid lead the state right now in covid19 cases. We were just looking at what is working because what we are doing now in the city is not working. That was the order that i propose for our city council. Katty what made you so convinced that proposing mandatory mask wearing and public would help the situation in montgomery . Councilman calhoun based on the medical experts within the city of montgomery and listening to the cdc, the issues is that they said masks take it down and 95 . If we can get the citizens throughout the state to just wear a Face Covering or mask. Just listened to the s just listening to the expert talk with us and the council, i thought it was the right thing to do to save lives. We are trying to save lives, keep people healthy and get back to almost see within the state and city of montgomery. Katty were you disappointed that your fellow legislators decided not to vote in favor of this ordinance . Councilman calhoun yes, i was very disappointed the east on, after the experts came up we had three doctors report and talk about what masks would do, how it would get us on a downturn with covid19 in montgomery, and just to listen to people in that profession. When you look at the medical profession, they came out to talk and plead their case about how hospital beds are not available in montgomery. People are in icus on ventilators. They pleaded to the council. I thought that would be enough to take the vote over the top. I respect the process, but i was very disappointed in the vote turnout last night. Katty i am going to be honest with you, i do not often follow the deliberations of the county council in Montgomery County, alabama. I probably should, but i listened last night to what was being said, and one of the things your fellow councilman who opposed this said is that they could not enforce this. Is it possible for america to enforce people Wearing Masks in public, to make them do it . Councilman calhoun what we are trying to do is put it out there. If you legislate something and i said to my fellow councilmember lastnight, we always talk about what is in outreach over your Constitutional Rights, but we are told to wear seatbelts, and we are also told that you cannot come outside without wearing close. Clothes. Most stores say no shoes, no shirt, no service. Lets give the citizens the opportunity. Sometimes we have to legislate things in order to get people that dont understand the pandemic thats going on, that you need to do that. If you as leaders in the city and state come out and say this is what we are requiring in montgomery, i think people will comply. Its not about the enforcing part. I said, its not my job to enforce the law. I will leave that up to our great officers in the city of montgomery to enforce the law and the administration to do those things. We just want to give them an opportunity to be able to enrce. Katty councilman calhoun, thank you for joining me. The message is, where your shoes, where your masks. John boltons memoir about his time as President Trumps National Security advisor is the talk of washington, even though its not out yet. That while the white house hopes it never will be. We are learning whats in the book, including an account of President Trump directly asking chinas president for help getting reelected. Lets bring in our reporter. You have looked at the reports about the book, what is new in it . Some of the stuff about china is particularly relevant. Donald trump hoping that china would buy Agricultural Products from midwestern battleground states suggesting that reelection was first and foremost during training negotiations with president xi. He also said he did not care about china having labor camps, and that it would not pressure china on human rights. And also confirms the allegations that democrats made that donald trump was conditioning u. S. Military aid to ukraine on ukraine providing damaging information about joe biden. All of this paints a picture of a president willing to bend Foreign Policy to personal, domestic and political goals, which is something democrats have been alleging since the beginning of those impeachment proceedings last year. Katty its not the first of this type of book from inside the white house. Do you think it could cause problems for the president . Obviously these allegations fit with what we have heard from Previous Administration aides. President not interested in Foreign Policy. Democrats say this would have been more useful coming out when they asked john bolton to testify during the impeachment proceedings. We are less than five months away from Donald Trumps reelection. His Reelection Campaign has been struggling for its footing. This will be an unwanted distraction as donald trump tries to shift focus towards the case he makes that he deserves another four years in office. Katty thank you for bringing us up to date. News from around the world, the Foreign Ministers of india and china have protested over clashes in kashmir. 20 indian troops were killed. China accused india of crossing the border and attacking chinese soldiers. Indias government accused china of breaking an agreement meant to respect the line. In a sign of the times, the maker of aunt jemimas syrup is retiring the brand and logo. The image has been a staple of grocery aisles for more than 130 years, but there have long been complaints of the racial stereotype it per trays. Those grew louder after the death of george floyd. You are watching bbc world news america. Still to come on tonights program. A felony murder charge in the killing of Rayshard Brooks. The officer who pulled the trigger could face life in prison. Katty the british Prime Minister has been involved in a minor car accident outside the houses of parliament. It happened when Boris Johnsons motorcade was pulling onto a street near where in your where protesters gather. One protester ran towards the vehicle, leading to a small collision. Our corrpondent has the story. A video posted online shows the Prime Ministers car in front, with a range rover behind and a police car behind that, coming out of the gates of parliament, than a protester running into the road, which causes the Prime Ministers car, silver car in front to stop very abruptly. The car behind the security detail does crash into the Prime Ministers car. The Prime Minister was in the car when that happened, but there are no reports of any injuries. It looks like Boris Johnsons car did get a large dent before it moved off. Katty a former Police Officer in the u. S. State of georgia has been charged with murder of an unarmed black man. Rayshard brooks was shot twice in the back during an altercation with two white officers outside a restaurant in atlanta. The officer could face the Death Penalty if found guilty. Our correspondent has more. It started out as a routine call. An African American reported asleep in his vehicle in the car parked at a Fast Food Restaurant in atlanta, georgia. Could you step out for me . Yes, sir. He was asked to take a sobriety test, then he asked if he coopted his sisters house nearby. I could go home, my daughters are there right now. Blah blah, stop. After he failed the breath test, the police decided to take him into custody. Thats when a fight broke out in which he fired one of the officers tasers. During a brief chase, he pointed the taser at the officer who responded by fatally shooting him in the back. Prosecutors revealed shocking new details that the officer who killed Rayshard Brooks had kicked him on the floor afterwards. And the other officer stood on his shoulders. Neither offered any medical help for two minutes. A felony murder charge against the officer. Georges attorney general showed a photograph of that kick, and stressed Rayshard Brooks did not pose a serious threat that justified the use of lethal force. The demeanor of the officers immediately after the shooting did not reflect any fear, or danger of mr. Brooks. But their actions really reflected other kinds of emotions. Faced with such massi and multiracial black lives matter protests, prosecutors are moving more swiftly to bring charges. What makes this case more alarming is that even at a time of heightened racial tensions, a white Police Officer thought he could chew an africanamerican in the back and then kick him on the ground afterwards. It will increase the already urgent demands for a Major Overhaul of american policing. Katty the country was watching, the whole world was watching and this still happened less than a month after the killing of george floyd. Now, if you are anything like me, you are probably a bit stressed out these days, living during a pandemic is not easy. The fear of getting covid19, the isolation, economic collapse, the overhaul of our daily lives and no clear end in sight. How are our brains responding to this covid craziness . Here is a look inside of our heads. We are processing this. In part, we are processing things very well and we are attacking and people are coming up with Creative Solutions to the many challenges of daily life. In part, we are running really scared. We are looking over a cliff that we cannot see the bottom of. The uncertainty surrounding job losses, the economy, isolation and fear of getting the virus all lead to stress. When its the stress thats ongoing, you are constantly aroused. Your nervous system is going with the fight or flight syndrome, but there is no flight. You end up with your Blood Pressure higher than normal. Is much more difficult to process, cognitively even, and you find yourself distracted, worried, and preoccupied. All of these reactions are existing simultaneously in your body and in your mind. You dont know, and are trying to figure out how to sort it all out. Then there is the social isolation. We have never had to self isolate and shelter in place like we have today. I dont think anybody alive has experienced Something Like this. Prolonged social isolation is definitely detrimental. We need people, we need human contact. And in a world where we dont have that, there is a risk for a number of disorders to become exacerbated. Mood disorders, anxiety, depression and worry are all a function of prolonged social isolation. We can look at other pandemics and epidemics and make predictions on how well we will do. And the pandemic ofeventualld hugging again, holding railings and shaking hands. The memory for this will fade as the risks fade. Katty oh my goodness, that is my brain on covid. I am distracted, cannot remember things, its a comfort to know its not just me. A letter written by Vincent Van Gogh to a mutual friend of theirs sold at auction for 236,000. In it, they describe living and working together in a french city in late 1888. They outlined their visits to the citys brothels, all in the interest of art. The letter will go on display in amsterdam later this year. Visit a profitable to do your painting. Narrator funding for this presentation of this program is provided by. Language specialists teaching spanish, french and more. Raymond james. The freeman foundation. By judy and Peter Blum Kovler foundation; pursuing solutions for americas neglected needs. And by contributions to this pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Yuyi i came to the uniteds. States when i was 24 years old. I did not speak any english. I felt very, very lost, really not knowing what to do with my life. One day on tv there was sesame street. Ernie and grover and cookie monster. And itsot only that i learned to speak in english, now know how to live in the united states. So this is how you do it now im powerful. Now i know i can do anything i want. I will make myself learn how to do it. And i got that from pbs. I bought my first set of paints and brushes and i practiced. My path is childrens books. And i have found who i wanted to be. Which is that person who has something to say. Pbs and sesame street, they opened all the world to me. Captioning sponsored by newshourroductions, llc woodruff good evening, im judy woodruff. On the newshour tonight, how to change the system and our society, as the u. S. Senate weighs police reform, i speak with republican senator tim scott of South Carolina about his plan forward. Then, one on one former defense secretary and c. I. A. Director robert gates discusses the federal response to protesters and americas role in a changing world. Plus, the movements moment we plore the growing coalition around black lives matter in the wake of recent Police Killings and nationwide protests