Another disaster. And President Trump hails a medication approved for use in treating covert 19 in the United States as the world waits for a vaccine. They have now been almost 3 and a half 1000000 coronavirus cases around the world and some 245000 deaths but more than a 1000000 people have also recovered from the disease many aspects of which still have doctors baffled michael oku welcome to the program in a moment coronavirus and press freedom but 1st a look at some of the other developments in the pandemic. Japans death toll from the virus has now topped 500 with more than 15000 infections across the country italy the 1st european country to impose a nationwide lockdown will begin easing some of its restrictions on monday germanys foreign minister heiko mosse is urging caution on rolling back International Travel curbs but he added europes borders shouldnt stay closed a day longer than necessary new york has dispatched a 1000 police into the streets this weekend to enforce social distancing as warm weather draws people outdoors now today is woold press freedom day as well as the human toll of the krona virus theres been another major casualty throughout this crisis truth weve seen just information even propaganda concerning the virus some of it from official sources a number of journalists have even been persecuted for trying to get to the truth and thats why this years georgia velo freedom of speech award is honoring journalists who have suffered harm because of their work on the Coronavirus Crisis we are only naming 17 but they represent all those journalists bloggers and citizens who have defied curbs on Media Freedom to report on the virus. Threatened attacked arrest as press freedom was already a contentious and often dangerous issue in countries governed by repressive leaders such as china russia or venezuela now the Current Crisis is making it even more difficult for journalists to do their job. In january 2020 these images were secretly shot by chinese citizen journalist pham being inside a hospital in new han the epicenter of the pandemic his report stiff of vastly from the image of the country portrayed on state television. There was a while ago i saw 3 corpses here he says on video now there are 8. Chain krishi a lawyer was the most prominent citizen journalist a more han. Whichever has been the virus is right in front of me chinas criminal prosecutors are behind me im not afraid of death do you think im afraid if you come in his heart your child ah it was to be changed to shes last video before he disappeared without a trace just like from then his last Footage Shows Police knocking on our door. With our. In russia where press freedom is strictly curtailed government friendly Media Outlets have been spreading misinformation about the corona crisis independent journalists are feeling the pressure and the Miller Sheena an internationally renowned investigative journalist received Death Threats after reporting on the coronavirus in chechnya illegibly from chechen president runs on can tear up himself. The Organization Reporters Without Borders has documented a Record Number of opportunity acts of violence against reporters in venezuela and some who has was detained by special forces for 12 days for pushing on covert 19 on social media. And countries where press freedom is already under threat the corona pandemic is making things even more difficult and more dangerous for journalists. Michelle bachelet lead United Nations high commissioner for human rights has paid this tribute to journalists around the world who continue their work despite threats intimidation and worse im here to honor the courage of the journalists who despite such attacks speak up and continue to investigate our report critically without fear i pay tribute to the courage of those who have been disappeared arrested or threaten for their work my office of the United Nations will continue to stand up for their rights again michelle bash the lead in noted nations high commissioner for human rights you can read more about the freedom of speech Award Winners on our website www dot com forward slash freedom now a brief look at some of the other stories making headlines around the world a cruise liner ship carrying almost 3000 people has been put under quarantine in the german port of kooks hofman one person on board tested positive for covert 19 the ship was transporting staff working for the chewie travel company were the pandemic has forced thousands of South Africans to queue for food residents of a township new jersey harrisburg waited as an aid agency distributed food mass and disinfectant the government is spending 24000000000 euros on emergency aid. The mayor of menow us in brazils Amazon Region is asking the climate activist gratitude bird to help his city to fight the virus he says people who work protecting the rain forests are at high risk the city is one of brazils hot spots. And the u. S. Military has staged a spectacular fly over in the skies over baltimore on our 1st responders and medical staff battling the krona virus jets from the air force thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels display teams made several passes over the city. South korea says its troops have exchanged gunfire with north Korean Forces along their tense border its the 1st cross border shooting incident in more than 2 years a statement by the military said north korea fired multiple gunshots towards a south korean guard post early on sunday and south korean troops responded with 2 shots no injuries have been reported the incident comes a day after north Korean Leader kim jong un appeared in public for the 1st time in 3 weeks ending speculation about his health. Following the story for us is correspondent frank smith in seoul frank can you give us the latest on this border shooting. Well as you mentioned according to south koreas joint chiefs of staff at 741 this morning north korea fired what are believed to be 4 shots to a south korean guard post and share one county thats along the d. M. Z. Border between north and south korea south korea also immediately broadcast a warning to north korea that they cease this firing and responded with 2 separate volleys of several shots on their own this violates according to the joint chiefs of staff a comprehensive military agreement that the 2 koreas signed back in 2018. Now as you know the border between these 22 countries is the worlds most heavily fortified should we be worried about an escalation thats correct we do need to remember the d. M. Z. Is anything but that it is an unmanned sort of buffer zone between the 2 koreas but on either side of that is an extraordinary amount of fencing within it there are a lot of land mines and there are 2000000. 00 troops faced off against each other in north korea and south korea with 30000 u. S. Troops here in south korea it is routine sort of area of flashpoint between the 2 sides including as recently as 27000 in november when a north korean soldier defected to the south and there were some shots fired at that time. You know anyone who watches the news cant help thinking that this shooting comes a day after north korea broadcast images of their leader kim jong un reappearing in public after a 20 day absence might those fired shots be something of a statement. Well thats entirely possible you know looking into why north korea does a lot of things this is a subject an industry of speculation here with experts a lot of times people suggest its a message to the International Community about who is in charge and certainly there was a lot of speculation about who was in charge in north korea with all the health sort of rumors that had been circulating before a north Korean Leader kim jong un reappeared just a couple of days ago correspondent frank smith thanks for that in the United StatesAuthorities Say people have the largely been following social didst distancing roles as more and more parts of the country reopen businesses and public spaces while the whole world waits for a Coronavirus Vaccine u. S. Regulators have approved a drug originally developed to treat a bola for use in treating covert 1000 patients for President Donald Trump its a welcome bright spot in his administrations response to the drone of virus crisis and is the 1st authorized an american president plagued with accusations of incompetence for his handling of the pandemic flanked by pairs of good news u. S. Regulators have fast tracked the emergency use a man can type i will try to treat coping 1000 patients called rem disappear and you know what that is because thats been the hot thing also in the papers and in the media for the last little while an important treatment for hospitalized coronavirus patients produce speculate sciences disappear is the 1st drug shown to help fight cope at 19 reducing hospital stays from 15 days to let it. But in 48 hours i was feeling. A lot better i think there were dems appear. Gave the extra jumpstart kickstarter whatever to turn a corner critical trials included more than 1000. 00 survey really ill people and compared those treat it with a friend does appear to those who received regular care. We want to make sure nothing gets in the way of these patients getting the medicine so we made a decision to donate about 1500000 vials of them disappear well be working with the government to determine how best to distribute out within the United States. But while the world waits for a drug that can crush cope at 19 and return life to normal not everyone is calling room disappear a game changer it doesnt change the fact that we havent had that many people and that its going to affect our economy many many months because the only real lucky ginger. No one knows yet what side effects might come with this new treatment but for now it appears the positive results outweigh the uncertainty. All over the world muslims are having to adjust to celebrating ramadan under lockdown but in lib syrias last rebel stronghold their social distancing message doesnt seem to be getting through the high number of displaced people medics fear an outbreak of covert 1000. 00 there would be disastrous. Praying close together without protection every day off to some say hundreds gather at this mosque in it lead. The jury ramadan this is perfectly normal but because of the corona virus pandemic its highly risky. Of course the infection can spread during prayer. But we are in gods hands and the prophet mohammad said that no people will suffer to disasters at the same time. One disaster is syrias war theres currently a cease fire and it led to countries last rebel stronghold much of the infrastructure here is destroyed including hundreds of clinics in the region. There arent yet any confirmed cases of corona virus but there arent many tests either. Many people are living their daily lives just like they did before the pandemic this could claim thousands of lives the World Health Organization is warning. Them please give it doesnt result in a crisis zone that already has Health Care Problems where people live very close to each other. The spread of corona virus would be truly catastrophic and the socialists. Pray at home or online risk free rather than in a mosque this message from the da has hardly gotten through and it lead. Most people know have to be on sin as the mountain one of the most terrifying and evil characters in game of thrones but now the icelandic actor is also a world record holder as strongman lifted an incredible 501 kilograms at the aptly named power jam and reykjavik so its in whos won the worlds strongest man competition in 2018 said afterwards he was absolutely speechless. Youre watching the news on michael in berlin and ill be back. With more headlines at the top of the hour in the meantime check out our website dot com and dont forget to follow us on twitter and instagram at news thats it for now well see you at the top of the hour with more news. Last. A its a deadly sins. Are going to end a womens nature. Are getting motivates us the timeframes tumorous. Greed. Essentially desires. Drives our