A nation in crisis. And german lawmakers backed plans to phase out coal as an Energy Source by 2038 but climate activists say 18 years is just too long to wait. Im Rebecca Ritters welcome to the program and is stan bull court has sentenced former Amnesty International later tannic to 6 Years Imprisonment on terrorism related charges the harsh verdict has ended what critics say was a politically motivated trial targeting opposition activists in turkey the court also sentence 3 other turkish activists to prison 7 of the 11 defendants were acquitted german activist no was among them his arrest in istanbul 3 years ago triggered a crisis in relations between germany and turkey. And im now joined by human rights activist that one of the defendants in the trial was also arrested in 27 tane and spent more than 100 days in pretrial detention but was returned to germany later that year paid it thanks very much for coming on the program you have been acquitted today 4 of your turkish friends and colleagues will go to jail what do you say about todays verdict well we would have expected the acquittal or all 11 of us this would have been a Good Foundation for human rights in turkey but we saw the opposite 4 of us receiving jail sentences we hope that we came go into the appeal court with it so that the sentences will not be legally binding or buy in soon. Still im happy about my career it will but it also gives me the energy to know a campaign for the left over for it to be created and how i view managed to be able to do that this trial has been ongoing since 27 st how closely have you been able to follow the proceedings from berlin well im quite closely linked was my lawyer isnt here that you stumble 10 in turkey so we have been really in close close contact and they inform you about everything is going on i was supporting him doing International Campaign in public work here in germany and doing also some blowby work was a German Government and other authorities hopefully this pressure we can continue to the left over for. Now all of the 11 who stood trial the 2 foreign nationals yourself and karami from sweden were acquitted were among the acquitted what does that tell us. Well it tells us about the if it is efficiency of International PressureInternational Political pressure and sure enough the sorrow of 5 or. More of the turkish activists also being acquitted so i hope that we can mount up International PressureGerman Government pressure because nomic pressure that human rights get implemented further in turkey and that means that the other 3 therefore will go free. Broadening this out somewhat this is one would have admit another setback for human rights in turkey what do you see for the future of human rights in the country their goal to have a very limited scope on turkish human rights because what im only involved in at this in 3 years ago. I can see 2 strings in a way one would be that yes human rights are under attack in turkey stronger than ever but theres the same time i see also that within Turkey Civil Society in the United Network is stronger than ever energy towards creating the people who are detained and these are not just the for is the will 10 atomic age its also a lot and many other journalists politicians human rights defenders the urgency of the energy is area think with more creativity was more solidarity we can reach further. Speaking to us on the day of your acquittal thank you very much for speaking today to be nice. Ok. Now to some of the other stories making news around the world france has a new Prime Minister it will cost x. Was previously a senior low profile bureaucrat he was responsible for coordinating frances reopening strategy after its coronavirus locked down his predecessor fully has had earlier turned in his red governments resignation to president emanuel. Maxwell the former girlfriend of the late finance year and convicted pedophile jeffrey state has been arrested in the u. S. On sex trafficking charges maxwell is accused of recruiting goals to give epstein mustaches during which they were sexually assaulted maxwell has previously denied any wrongdoing. The u. S. Has reported a Record Number of new corona virus infections 55000 new coded 19 cases were logged on thursday just as the country gears up for the 4th of july Independence Day weekend lets look at data showing daily new cases from the beginning of the outbreak in the u. S. After rising steadily to begin with the curve flattens from the end of april to about mid june but as the lockdown restrictions eased a new infections have shot up again. And as u. S. States report Record Numbers of the coronavirus Independence Day festivities a big scaled back officials are urging caution at both public and private gatherings Washington Bureau chief in his poll visited a popular beach resort to gauge the mood. For Many Americans this is the 1st time out after a month. They are hungry for fun and some. Want to celebrate this 4th of july weekend as they normally do. To keep moving on do the fireworks continue normality as much as we can moving back to normalcy is what wed like to do and i think if you take the right precautions theres nothing to be scared they dont want your party to know what you enjoy yourself but you have you know how many thousands in a group on the protests how to deal with the pandemic is highly politicized some fear that the restrictions are taking away their personal freedom others just see in the responsible actions. I expect here in our community in maryland because its tor season now that these cases are going to come back as people do not socially distance or where there are mass while visiting our beaches i dont think president do anything i think he will continue to say its a hoax and not believe in the science that is there causing so many cases and. This lack of guidance creates a turn them off for Business Owners between Health Concerns and remaining competitive. Rants in the bar and grill in the 5th generation. We want them to wear a mask but if they dont want to wear a mask we can tell them where im at because if theyre right to wear a mask or not i dont feel safe with them around at night when im at you know that flat where im at. But yeah i would rather that where. You can make it out you could make it a law that you know we have to where it is recommended for our safety and our health. You know you make it where you know you get fined 500. 00 if you know where. The United States are facing a new record high of 19 infections littlewood you know here at the boardwalk in ocean city maryland the majority of the people is not wearing a mask they tell us we are here to fun we want to celebrate we are done with this why was the Business Owners obviously do have a different approach they fear that after the weekend they will face a new wave which will lead to a new locked all in and that would bring them to their knees in 2 weeks time we will know whether the right steps were taken if people celebrated this unprecedented 4th of july in a responsible way or the worst fears of the next wave. To come true. Well lets cross to washington now and you know as paul who brought us that story in is how are people preparing for the holiday tomorrow. Well larry differently as we saw in this report some kind of want to continue doing what they always do others are really really careful theyre going to stay at home only need really their friends and closest neighbors to avoid spreading the virus even further and since lockdown measures have been aimed at many places were saying record level new infections on an almost daily basis today is that having any noticeable influence on peoples behavior. Yes indeed and its really really differently you know i just was riding my bike the other day here in d. C. Without a mask because its terribly hot this elderly woman shouted at me im 72 and you are responsible if i die so you have these people on that side and on the other side people just dont care so its really split is really the worst with pretty much everything in this country right now yes you say sort of different perspectives from different sides of the debate. The people who are on the side of feeling that they have freedoms are being curtailed are we expecting any protests over the weekend. The bill you know normally if there is a huge parade here in washington we will see a speech of donald trump you will see some fireworks but theyre already 20 protests scheduled for tomorrow only here in d. C. And im sure we will see much more all over the country thats something to watch and we will be here to report on that speaking to you over the weekend as paul speaking to us from washington thanks very much. Germanys parliament has approved a plan to phase out coal as an Energy Source by 2038 how the parliament is promising billions of euros in aid for regions whose economies depend on coal but climate activists say 18 years is too long to wait at the entrance to the german bundestag where the parliament gathers climates manage to get overhead to unfurl a banner that read a future without coal power. Has more on the decisions by general mike has. The end is nigh for coal in germany centuries of coal mining will come to an end not more than 18 years from now together with the switch off of Nuclear Power production set for 2022 germany faces a massive shift in its energy mix. And his tortious that this really is a historic step in germany is one of the 1st industrialised countries to end with both coal and Nuclear Electricity generation at the same time the way has been prepared by a commission including many different groups and parts of society this is now been turned into law and thats a Great Success it is the result of 3 years of consultation a process almost as laborious as the ground youll scraping of opencast mining itself being to reassure industry that it will still get reliable power and at the same time to persuade people in the affected regions that after inevitable job losses new opportunities will emerge. More than 40000000000 euros to be spent on infrastructure such as road and rail projects in neglected corners of the country should help leaders of the mining regions in eastern germany are nervous of protests. This is a clever and balanced compromise but i think its important that we do not have a repeat of what happened before when the commission produced its report namely that those who are directly affected coal workers and the regions support this compromise but other people start to demonstrate against it. In fact demonstrations are already happening climate activists say the exit plan is not ambitious enough that compensation being paid to Mining Companies is too generous some say coal was on the way out anyway as renewables become cheaper but the exit strategy which germany hopes other countries may follow has now passed into law giving clarity to firms and workers and leaving the coal in the ground. Oh well many festivals around the world has been cancelled this year because of the coronavirus pandemic one of and in belgium managed to find a work around the Paradise City l. A. Tronic Music Festival reinvented itself to adapt to physical distancing rules by putting party goes on a small boats of a friend but it was much smaller than usual only 400. 00 people were allowed to attend normally the festival drolls around 10000. 00 people per day. This is day 8 of the news heres a reminder of the top stories at this hour a court in istanbul has sentenced to 4 leaders of Amnesty Internationals turkish branch to prison critics say the case was politically motivated. And little known here a crowd has been appointed as francaise new Prime Minister shown cast x. One prays for leading the nation out of its coronavirus lockdowns he says he wants to reunite from. Watching data over the news thats it from am the news came to fill gail well have an update for you at the top of the hour and dont forget to check out our web site as do w. Dot com im rebecca reaches in thanks very much for watching. And learning which course of. Video or. Anytime anywhere. W