Transcripts For LINKTV DW News 20240712

House. Also on the program, belaruss exiled Opposition Leader visits berlin to ask for Angela Merkels help. The german mediation called to end the crisis gripping her country, and she spoke with dw ahead of her meeting with the chancellor. Three virologists win this years nobel prize for medicine for their discovery of hepatitis c. Paris orders its bars and cafes closed as europe confronts a second wave of coronavirus. The french capital and its surroundings are on maximum alert. Im phil gayle. Welcome to the program. Donald trumps doctors have confirmed a message from the president saying he believed the Military Hospital in maryland where he is being treated for covid19 this evening. Tweeting from the Walter Reed Medical Center, President Trump said he would leave at 6 30 p. M. Local time. In his message, he claimed he is feeling better than he has for 20 years and urged people not to be afraid of the coronavirus. He was helicopter into the hospital three days ago after testing positive and showing symptoms of covid19. Straight to washington where we join dw correspondent. The initial announcement was made by the president via a tweet. Lets hear from his physicia. It has been 72 hours since his lastst fever. Oxygen levels, including such saturations andnd his breathing were normal. Though he may not be entirely out of the woods yet, the team and i agree that all our evaluations and his clinical status support the president s safe return home, where he will be surrounded by worldclass michael care 24 7. Phil this sounds like he was a miracle he was only in three days ago and is now leaving hospital. This seems to be also the most amount of information we have gotten out of these doctors about the president s condition. They have been rather circumspect up until now and we are getting stats and figures that seem positive, but the phrase not quite out of the woods yet taken with what the doctor said moments later when a journalist asked him, what was the president s last negative covid test . The doctor said, i dont want to go backwards. This opened up the possibility that the president has not had a negative covid test, that he is in fact still positive and has a virus in his system and is therefore still infected and contagious. This sending him home while he has a lot of medical stuff at home still poses a great threat to the people who work with him. Phil ok. He tweeted a little earlier, dont be afraid of covid. Dont let it dominate your life. That does not sound like he is taking this disease particularly seriously. Yes. It seems like he has not particularly adjusted his administrations stance on the disease. The entire seven months that we have been living with this in the u. S. , his administration has very much downplayed the effects, saying it is not that bad, people dont need to wear masks, coming up against having a mask mandate. Also pushing cities and states to reopen their economies, their bars, cafes, places of work. Very much against the advice of medical experts, including his own top medical experts. And now he can come forward and say he has proof that it is not that bad because he spent three days in the hospital and is perfectly fine. I have to reiterate there are more than one Million People dead worldwide and 210,000 people dead in the u. S. The u. S. Has the highest rate of mortality from this disease and it is something to be taken seriously. Phil lets also not forget that within the white house it is not just the president with covid19. There has been a lot of sweeping through white house staff. Bring us uptodate on that. Yes indeed. It seems like there was a splash zone. There is a recent count from cnn that says at least 14 people in the president s close orbit have tested positive, including the first lady. Just a couple hours ago, press secretary Kayleigh Mcenany said she also tested positive, although she is asymptomatic and will start the quarantine process. There is a New York Times report that says the household staff have also tested positive recently. This is an infectious disease. The president has been meeting with donors, having fundraisers, was supposed to be having rallies. It is not just his top circle but everyone they have come in contact with as well. Phil meanwhile, there is an election to win. Less than a month ago. Lets talk about the other guy, joe biden. What are they saying about all this . The Biden Campaign has been publicizing bidens negative covid tests and taking the opportunity to draw up a very bright line between their plant and how the Trump Administration has been tweeting the pandemic. So harping on health care and they are planning to get more health care to more people, the plan for the Pandemic Recovery and economic recovery, they are taking it seriously. Very much in contrast to the Trump Administrations stance. It is not that bad. Everything should reopen. We can be cavalier about it. It will be fine. Phil ok. Thank you. The first of the 2020 nobel prizes was awarded today was announced today, and it is going to a trio of people for discovering hepatitis c. The Ground Breaking Research Dates Back to the 1970s. The discoveries help save countless lives around the world. 71 Million People. That is how many people suffer from a chronic hepatitis c infection. The virus is transnsmitted throh blood. It often goes unnoticed for a long time, slowly and silently attacking the liver. Infection can lead to diseases like liver cirrhosis or liver cancer, a majoror reason people need liver transplant. The discovery of the virus led to huge medidil b breakthrougug. Really a lifesaving discovery. Also, it is critical to go to the beginning to really understand the basic original discoverieies. There is so much else that has happened. Soso many advances in therapy, etc. , but that is made possible by this initial disiscovery. When harvrvey discovered hepatitis c virus in 1989, it was the first step to fighting dangerous and mysterious liver infections. The second nobel lauaureate then succcceeded in isolating the dna of the newly found virus. Finally, charles proved it is the virus alone that causes liver disease. These ththree scientistss discoveries also made it possible to o screen donated blood, making blood transfusions much safer. After the discovery, we were able to test all the blolood donors and sort ouout the ones wiwith hepatitisis c c. One could alalso develop trtreatments with which we could successfully fight the virus. There is still no vaccine for hepatitis c. The research for that is ongoing. Over 95 of hepatitis c patients can be successfully treated against the disease. Thanks to the work of todays nobel prize winners. Phil we will take a look at some of the other stories making news around the world. At least 17 people have been injured in a police whenn polilice clalashed with h protes at a rally in the turkish capital. Demonstrators were protesting against the results of the parliamentary election. They accuse the parties of buyiying votes and fraud. The suicide bomb attack in eastern afghanistan has killed at least eight people and left more than 2500. The attacker packed with explosives into a cononvoy. This comomes as the afghan president trtraveled t to qatarn an attempt to restart stalled peace talks with the taliban. Military helicopters have been called to the south of france searching for people still missing after a powerful storm swept through the region over the weekend killing at least four. As many as 18 others are still unaccounted for. Witnesses say they might have been carried off by floodwaters. Belaruss Opposition Leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is here in berlin asking for germanys help in solving the crisis in her country. She was forced into exile after losing augusts president ial election to the longstanding authoritarian leader lukashenko. She has been meeting with european leaders as weekly mass protests continue in her country. Human rights organizations say more than 10,000 people have been detained in belarus since the election. She will meet german chancellor Angela Merkel. She told dw why germany might play an aborted role. In this moment of the belarus political crisis, the support of any country around is important for us. But germany is one of the most powerful countries in the world. It is extremely important because now we need help in mediation of our negotiations with authorities, and we think germany and the leaders can be extremely helpful in this. Phil lets talk to the dw Political Correspondent about how helpful berlin can be. Welcome, simon. What answer is she likely to get when she meets the chancellor tomorrow . Well, i think a positive answer generally depends of course what she asks for. I think if that is an active role for germany in mediating between the opposition in belarus and the regime, that would be a huge step for berlin. So we will have to see how that plays out during the three days of this visit. I think what is being envisaged as well is a more practical kind of support for the opposition. Many of those activists have been locked up and badly treated by police. They could use some legal and medical support. Also, their families as well i think. Some of these activists probably for their own safety would like refuge in the european union. That is something germany can drive forward as well. We can listen to another clip from that quick interview with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in which she explained a little bit more about what kind of f support she is looking for. I repeat it all the time. We need support now. It can be any kind of help. Help for students. Help for journalists. Help. Help for sportsmen. All those people fighting for their rights, who are fighting for new elections. It is up to every country how to help. Every circle of Society Needs help at the moment. Phil what sort of message does that send to belarus that she is here in germany meeting with the chancellor and foreign minister . I think it sends a strong message. Angela merkels earlier today that this meeting that is set for tuesday is intended as a sign of the chancellors Great Respect for both Svetlana Tikhanovskaya herself and the peaceful demonstrators in belarus. The spokesman emphasized that the chancellor believes the enormous courage is important. It is very much echoing the same sort of comments that were made by the french president when he met with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya last week inin this weightr. R. Last week in lithuania. It is clear what side they stand on in this confrontation. Again, as the spokesman repeated, the key points are to end the violence, release political prisoners, and hold free and Fair Elections after those very distorted Election Results we saw a couple month ago from belarus. Phil thank you. Looks like Angela Merkel is having a busy day today. The eus chief negotiator is in berlin with a meeting with the chancellor. The status on the talks with britain were briefed. The eu is pursuing a constructive approach is the final agreement. The decision to turn over parts of the divorce, propped up prompted brussels to start legal action. People on both sides of the channel are currently busy enough shouldering the healthrelated and economic challenges and would therefore be totally irresponsible to burden them with additional problems resulting from a no deal. Phil the foreign secretary. The British Government is under criticism after newspaper reports that it is considering plans to house asylumseekers offshore on remote islands. Since august, more than 1000 migrants have made illegal crossings from the french port after promising to secure the borders. London is under growing pressure to stop the crossings. Pictures thatt made headlines in the u. K. This summer. People in rubber dinghies making their way across the English Channel seeking asylum. Now the royal navy and the air force are being deployed to stop them. A sudanese citizen trying to get to england is not fazed. The government does not want new people for the country. But the country is big. It can take anyone. So we will find a place there. He is on the french side at the port trying g to figure out when he can cross. The city has been an asylum transit hub for years. But infrastructure for the almost 1500 refugees is practically nonexistent. A tent city on the edge of a road. Lilittle electricity or acacceso runnnning water. Regular police checks. Here, there arere no reception centers. In roadside green areas, refugees meet to discuss their only hope of getting away, by rubber dinghy. This boat, people in europe use it to enjoy ourselves. But we use it to reach the u. K. So some people use the machines. Some people have motors. From here to u. K. About 34 kilometers, it takes about three hours. Three hours and have. If people use their h hands, itt takes 10 hours to 11 hours. Most boats set off just after dawn. The French Police have to keep their eye on 45 kilometers of coastline. This summer, they have had reinforcements. The british are paying for an extra 45 officers a day. Some of them on horseback. But still, they are only able to afford a fraction of the risky departures. Rescue crews are called out every day. The English Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The English Channel is a motorway and driving on a motorway with a scooter is dangerous. That is what it is like here. But that has not stopped hundreds of people trying to do it every day. After all, he says they have nothing to lose. Refugees and migrants h have alwaways faced stark odds. The latest measures have made those odds even starker. Meanwhile, authorities in the french capital are shutting down terroristss bars and cafes for two weeks shutting down pariss bars and cafes for two weeks. They are on maximum alert and social distancing rules will come into effect on tuesday. Infections and hospitalizations have hit highs in france not seen since the easing of the countries lockdown and make. Does countrys lockdown countrys lockdown in may. A sharp spike in coronavirus cases. Authorities say they had no choice but to introduce stricter rules for businesses in the paris region. The epidemic is going too fast. We must stop it now before the Health System is overwhelmed. The numbers make it clear and we must do this to avoid shadowing our country. The new measures put a ban on gatherings of more than 1000 people. Bars only serving alcohol will be forced to close. Restaurants which abide by the regulations and put in place new hygiene particles will be allowed to remain open. Officials say they are trying to strike a delicate balance. They are too aware of the economic hardships of many business owners. The Health Crisis has had extremely harsh consequences. It is dramatic for many families and for Economic Activity in our country and in our capital. Bar and Restaurant Owners say they will have to live with the new restrictions. But many complained that closing their doors even for a short period of time could have longterm effects on their businesses. When you are running a business, if you dont open, it is madness. Customers have their routines. If they see the shutters down once, twice, three times, they dont come back. Police say the tougher restrictions will be in place for at least two weeks. With the number of Coronavirus Infections rising so rapidly all over europe, it could be sometime before the streets and shops of paris are back to something approaching normal. Phil now to india where there are grave concerns the coronavirus pandemic could force millions of poor and underprivileged children into work. Lockdowns have thrown the countrys job market into turmoil, and welfare organizations are warning it could erase decades of progress in eradicating child labor. Down with child trafficking. Boys and girls learn to play with a Child Welfare advocate. Child trafficking is a reality in india. Children are sometimes kidnapped. Others are forced by their parents to work. A 15yearold has just returned from visiting relatives in the countryside. I was visiting my uncle. On the bus ride back, i saw lots of small children on their own begging on the side of the road. They teach children how to defend themselves. For years, he has been working with a Charity Group to fight child trafficking. He says the pandemic has made the situation even worse. Children are in great demand as a form of cheap labor. One adult Migrant Workers returned to their villages, demand for cheap labor increased. Child labor is used to compensate. Since the schools are closed due to the lockdown, parents have been sending their children away to work. This child labor was found during a raid on a bakery and deli. 15 children were rescued. In recent months, the foundation has freed more than 1000 children being held in slavery like conditions. Signs of worsening poverty on the streets of delhi. Child beggars existed before the pandemic, but now millions of middleclass indians have lost their jobs and laid off their servants. These children are helping feed their families. One has established a Childrens Foundation which has grown into a nationwide network. Its mission, raising Awareness Among indians about the need for Child Welfare. The biggest threat is that millions of children may fall back into slavery, trafficking, child labor, child marriages. School would be denied. These children walk along the train tracks in delhi. They hope to earn money from selling plastic bottles. According to unicef, there are more than 10 million child laborers in india. Most younger than nine years old. That is why he has invited mothers to visit. He stresses the importance of sending children to school. He encourages the boys and girls to demand a good education. The school was notot good at al. Did not even have water. We wrote to the head and complained about the lack of water. We even spoke to City Council Members it. I have come here to help find a solution. A school play shows what it is like for many poor children. How they are drugged and kidnapped. But these children are learning where they can turn for help. Phil as Coronavirus Infections around the world surge, pandemic researchers are taking a heavy toll on the entertainment industry. Today the worlds secondbiggest enema operator announced it is temporary cinema operator announced it is temporary closing 3700 theaters in the u. K. And u. S. The cinema industry has been made unviable. James bond. Not for the first time has 007 been a specter to come to the rescue. This timime,an industrtry thrown into crisis. But no time to die itself fell victim to the virus. Its producers delaying its release until next spring. Come on, bond. The move has made the business unviable. It has lost 1. 6 billion. We were bleeding much bigger amounts when we arere open n thn when we are closed because we will be like a grocery stop with no food. Shop with no food. With jobs at risk, Boris Johnson is calling for the public to help out. What i would say to people is ththat local cinemas do now have ways of letting their shows go on in a covid secure way. I would encourage people to go out to the cinema, enjoy themselves, and support those businesses. It may be too late for the silver screen. Without the lure of blockbuster releases, anxious consumers are perhaps even less likely to far to the cinema for some escapism. No matter how much they need it. Phil toplevel professional cyclists really make beginners mistakes but that is exactly whwhat happenedd at a oneday classic recent belgium. The world champmpion wasnvolved in this finish w with four other riders. He thought he won and raised his arms and celebration, but the problem for the frenchman was he had not yet crossed the line. The Tour De France runnerup beat him. They are feisty with powerful jaws and a growl. 3000 years after their extinction in australias mainland, tasmanian devils a e backck in a while c cservationis rereleased 26 6 into an area the hours north of sydney where they can settle and prepare for breeding season in february. It is believed they were wiped out on the maiainland by wild ds and have notot fed well on tasmanania. A contagious disease has ravaged more than 80 of the population. It is time to remind everyone of our top story. Donald trumps medical team have cleared the u. S. President to leave hospital and head back to the white house to continue his recovery from covid19. The president tweeted he was feeling good and urged people not to be afraid of the coronavirus. He was admitted to the Walter Reed Medical Center for treatment on friday. I will be back in just a moment with the day, and there is more world news at the top of the hour. Have a goooo day. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] q;xxn÷ anchor world news and analysis from france 24. These are the headlines trump says he is coming out of hospital and returnining to thte white house. Feeling better than he did 20 years ago, dont b be afraid of covid, he added. More interims inner circle have tested positive for covid19, the latest being press secretary Kayleigh Mcenany. Closing bars to stop the spread of covid19. More cases reported in the past